THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


CAPTAIN  WATERS, 


AND 


BILL  HIS  BO'SON. 

TALE 


OF  THE  OCEAN  AND  THE  FARM. 

BY 

R.  O.  SAULT, 

(CHAS.  F.  SWAIN.) 


Right  to  Dramatize  Reserved. 


NEW  YORK : 

JOHN  P.  JEWETT,  PUBLISHER, 

180  Fulton  Street. 
1878. 


Copyright  1877,  by 
CHAS.    F.    SWAIN. 

RIGHT  SKCURBD   FOK    DRAMATIZING. 


PRESS  OF  CHAS.  A.  COFFIN, 
85  A  87  John  Street. 


PS 


CONTENTS. 


5  s 


CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

I. — The    Captain    concludes    to  change    his    mode 

of  living,  7 

II. — The  Captain's  new  arrangement  with  his  Crew,  -  II 

III. — The  Bo'son,  Steward  and  Lizzie,  17 

IV.  -Bill  Thomas  the  Bo'son,  21 

V.— Bill  the  Bo'son,  -  2§ 

VI.— The  Bo'son's  Dog,           -            -            -            -  28 

VII. — Captain  Waters  sells  the  Ship  and  buys  a  Farm,  31 

VIII. — The  Bo'son  and  Dog  leave  the  Ship  and  save  a 

Child,  -  35 

IX. — The  Bo'son  undertakes  to  Milk,  and  Salt  Sheep,  40 

X. — The  Bo'son  dresses  and  goes  to  Friends'  Meeting,  46 
XI. — Ship  Neptune,  Captain  Waters,  the  Bo'son,  and 

some  tar,                                     -'           -            -  52 

XII. — Black-eyed  Susan  and  her  Friends,  56 
XIII. — Captain  Waters  returns,  and  is  welcomed  by  a 

salute,  -  61 

XIV. — Susie's  First  Morning  at  the  Farm,        -  66 

XV. — Susie  Morton  tells  the  Bo'son  some  love  stories,  71 

XVI. — Mrs.  Goodwin  visits  the  Waters'  farm,  77 

XVII. — Mrs.  Goodwin  visits  Mrs.  Moores,         -  8a 

XVIII.— The  Bo'son  Soaks  the  Butts  out  of  a  Ram,       -  88 

XIX. — Frank  and  Julia  arrive,  93 

XX. — Frank    Livingston   offers  himself   in  Marriage, 

and  is  rejected,            -             -  98 
XXI. — The  Bo'son  undertakes  to  navigate  an  Ox  Cart, 

and  breaks  an  axle-tree,            -                          -  103 

XXII. — Frank  Livingston  Talks  with  the  Family,         -  107 

XXIII. — Frank  Livingston  leaves  the  Farm,        -            -  112 

XXIV. — Welcome  Goodwin  visits  the  Bo'son,     -            -  116 

XXV. — Amos  Hardengrip  and  Family,                            -  121 

XXVI. — George  Wilson  visits  the  Waters'  Farm,            -  126 

XXVII.— A  Family  Sociable,         -            -            -  130 

XXVIII. — Julia  writes  to  Frank,     -                                      -  135 

XXIX. — Susie  Morton  tells  the  Captain  and  his  Wife,     -  139 


1626365 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER.  PAGE. 

XXX. — Captain  Waters  is  better   informed  and   talks 

with  the  Bo'son,                                                   -  145 
XXXI.— Welcome  Goodwin  and  the  Steward.     -            .  149 
XXXII. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  visit  the  Farm,   -             -  155 
XXXIII.  -  Mr.    and    Mrs.    Morton    obtain     Susie's    con 
ditional  consent  to  many  I1' rank   Livingston,  159 
XXXIV. — Capt.    Waters    shakes    Mr.     Morton    and     he 

becomes  sensible,        -                                       -  164 

XXXV. — Capt.  and  Mrs.  Waters' opinion  on  Happiness,  -  169 

XXXVI. — The  Bo'son  tows  a  Steer  out  of  the  pasture,      -  174 
XXXVII.— Susie  and    Julia   talk,    and    Mr.   Morton   and 

Julia  write,       -                                                    -  178 

XXXVIII. — Julia  Fizzlebaugh  receives  an  offer,        -            -  183 
XXXIX.— The   Bo'son    Plows   and  the   Oxen   turn  their 

Yoke,               -  1 88 
XL. — Frank     Livingston    and    Julia    complete     the 

engagement,    -----  193 

XLI. — Frank  and  Julia  are  Married,     -                          -  198 

XLII. — The  Bo'son 's  opinion  on  Duties            -            -  203 

XLIII.— Return  to  the  Farm,       .                                     -  208 

XLIV. — The  Bo'son  and  Dog  save  a  young  lady  from 

Drowning,        -            -                          -             -  213 

XLV.— Friends  visit  the  Farm,                                        -  219 

XLVI.— The  Bo'son  reveals  a  Secret  and  loses  a  Cargo 

of  Turnips,       -            ....  223 

XLVII.—  George  Wilson  arrives  and  matters  are  arranged,  230 

XLVIII. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  change  their  views,         -  235 
XLIX. — Hardcngrip    kills     his     Hogs    and    loses    his 

Sausages,         -  241 

L.— The  Bo'son  tells  a  Whaling  Story,         -             -  249 

LI.— The  Bo'son  and  his  Sleigh,         -                          -  256 

LII. — A  visit  to  the  Family  of  Welcome  Goodwin,     -  261 

LIII. — A  new  Ship  and  another  voyage,                         -•  267 

LIV. — The   Captain   builds   a   Ship  and    Hardengnp 

wants  a  Wife,                              -                           -  273 

LV. — Hardengrip  goes  a  Courting,      -            ...  377 
LVI. — Joe  Western  goes  to  the  farm   and  the  Ship  to 

New  York,       -                                                    -  282 

LVIL— A  Double  Marriage  and  Costly  Presents,           -  286 

LVI  1 1. — Conclusion,          ...  291 


PUBLISHER'S  INTRODUCTION. 


The  manuscript  of  this  work  was  placed  in  my 
hands,  for  examination,  some  weeks  since.  I  took  it 
home  and  read  it  aloud  to  my  four  boys,  their  ages 
varying  from  9  to  1 5  years.  So  absorbed  did  they 
all  become  in  the  development  of  the  story,  with  its 
fascinating  descriptions  of  "  Life  upon  the  Ocean 
Wave"  that  they  could  not  be  persuaded  to  go  to 
bed,  without  a  promise  from  me,  that  I  would  stop 
where  I  was,  and  resume  the  reading  on  the  follow 
ing  evening.  Being  satisfied  that  it  could  not  fail 
to  interest  every  youthful  mind,  I  tested  it  still 
further  upon  cultivated  adults,  and  with  similar 
results.  The  work  is  now  offered  to  the  public,  in 
the  confident  belief  that  it  will  prove  to  be  one  of 
;he  most  readable  works  on  sea  life,  which  has  ap 
peared  for  many  years.  The  reader  will  soon  find 
that  it  is  not  a  concoction  of  land-lub-ber-isms,  but 
a  veritable  transcript  of  actualities,  faithfully  drawn 
by  an  "  Old  Salt ;  "  being  a  history  of  the  life-long 
experiences  of  the  Captain,  his  Bo'son  and  dog. 
Bill  the  Bo'son  is  a  phenomenon ;  a  genuine  salt 
upon  the  ocean,  and  sui-gencris  in  navigating  a 
farm, — especially  so  in  his  encounter  with  the  ven 
erable  Patriarch  of  the  sheep-fold.  Bill  will  hence 
forth  figure  in  Ocean  Literature  with  "  Ratlin  the 
Reefer,"  "  Robinson  Crusoe,"  and  other  worthies  ot 
that  ilk. 

JOHN  P.  JEWETT,  Publisher. 

New  York,  Feb.,  1877, 


THE  BO'SON'S  FAITHFI-L  Doc,  BOSK,  RESCUING 

LITTLE  NELLIE  FROM  DROWNING. 

(See  Page  37.) 


CAPTAIN  WATERS  AND  HIS  BO'SON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  CAPTAIN  CONCLUDES  TO  CHANGE  HIS  MODE  OF  LWING. 

CAPTAIN  Joseph  Waters  commenced  his  life  on  the 
ocean  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  without  the 
aid  of  money  or  relatives  worked  his  way  up  to  the  com 
mand  of  a  ship. 

After  spending  over  forty  years  on  the  ocean  and  ac 
cumulating  enough  of  the  riches  of  this  world  to  provide 
for  all  future  wants,  and  allow  him  to  select  his  own  mode 
of  living,  he  carefully  surveyed  the  coast  to  find  a  safe 
and  comfortable  harbor  where  he  could  anchor  and  "  ride 
out  "  the  declining  years  of  his  life. 

When  a  boy  he  had  lived  and  worked  on  a  farm.  He 
liked  it  then  and  thought  he  should  like  it  again. 

Sailors  often  when  at  sea,  and  especially  in  stormy 
weather,  talk  of  changing  their  occupation  and  becoming 
farmers,  and  Captain  Waters  had  also  for  many  years 
contemplated  such  a  change. 

In  arranging  to  relinquish  an  occupation  to  which  he 
had  devoted  more  than  forty  years  of  his  life,  he  felt  that 
his  first  duty  would  be  to  make  a  proper  provision  for 
those  who  had  been  his  companions  on  the  ocean. 
They  through  many  long  years  had  been  in  his  service, 
obeyed  his  commands  and  aided  him  in  accumulating  his 
wealth,  and  had  become  attached  to  him  as  his  friends. 
The  Captain  therefore  felt  impelled  by  all  the  obligations, 
and  bound  by  all  the  mystic  ties  of  ocean  brotherhood,  to 
see  them  well  provided  for. 


8  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

His  old  steward  had  sailed  with  him  twenty-two  years, 
bad  served  him  all  that  time  faithfully  in  that  capacity, 
and  being  an  educated  man,  had  rendered  important  as 
sistance  in  keeping  his  books  and  making  out  his  accounts. 
He  was  of  foreign  birth,  differing  in  race,  and  also  slightly 
in  complexion,  from  his  commander. 

The  stewardess  had  been  sailing  with  him  over  twenty 
years.  He  saw  her  for  the  first  time  when  she  was  dis 
covered  on  board  of  his  ship  among  the  steerage  passen 
gers.  It  was  her  first  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  New 
York,  and  in  the  winter  season.  Before  reaching  port 
her  father  and  mother  died,  leaving  her  without  a  known 
relative  in  the  world.  The  Doctor  reported  her  sick  and 
needing  special  care,  and  she  was  taken  into  the  cabin, 
and  tenderly  nursed  by  Mrs.  Waters  until  she  fully  re 
covered.  At  the  end  of  that  voyage  she  expressed  a  wish 
to  remain  on  board,  as  she  had  neither  home  nor  friends, 
and  declared  that  if  the  captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  would 
keep  her  with  them,  she  would  never  leave  while  they  had 
a  ship  to  float  in.  Ocean  life,  as  it  proved,  suited  her  well, 
and  she  always  kept  her  promise. 

Last,  but  not  least,  among  those  to  be  cared  for,  was 
Bill  Thomas,  the  Bo'son.  Bill  had  sailed  with  Captain 
Waters  twenty-seven  years,  and  during  the  last  twenty  of 
those  years  the  Captain  would  as  soon  have  thought  of 
making  a  voyage  around  the  world  without  his  chronome 
ter,  as  without  his  Bo'son. 

Chronometers  require  winding  up,  and  sometimes 
change  their  rate  at  sea,  and  have  to  be  corrected  by 
lunar  observations,  or  sighting  the  land  ;  they  cannot  al 
ways  be  depended  on.  The  Bo'son  never  required  wind 
ing  up,  and  could  at  all  times  be  depended  on. 

The  Captain  talked  the  subject  over  with  Mrs.  Waters, 
and  she  said  : 

"  It  is  sheer  nonsense  to  think  of  going  on  a  farm,  un 
less  we  take  the  whole  family  with  us." 

Their  children  were  all  grown  up,  married  and  settled 
in  life,  and  Mrs.  Waters  meant,  by  the  "  whole  family," 
the  Bo'son,  steward  and  stewardess,  and  it  would  have 
been  difficult  to  convince  her  that  either  of  them  belonged 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO" SON-.  g 

less  to  the  family  then  she  did  herself.  All  the  others 
seemed  to  share  this  feeling. 

Presently  Mrs.  Waters  added  :  "  Captain,  how  are  you  to 
get  along  on  a  farm  without  the  steward  to  give  your  orders 
to,  when  you  want  an  early  breakfast  or  something  extra 
cooked  ?  Who,  I  should  like  to  know,  but  the  old  stew 
ard,  can  cook  a  duck  with  curry  sauce  to  suit  your  taste  ? 
And  who  but  he  can  get  up  twice  laid  codfish  so  that 
you  can  eat  it  ?  And  who  is  to  brush  your  coat,  black 
your  boots,  tell  you  where  your  storm-hat  is  when  you 
want  to  go  on  deck  in  a.  squall,  tell  you  how  the  ship 
heads,  or  hand  you  the  spy-glass  when  there  is  a  sail  in 
sight  ?  I  am  free  to  admit  that,  though  I  have  sailed  with 
you  on  every  voyage  for  the  last  twenty  years,  and  many 
odd  voyages  before  that,  a^d  have  lived  with  you  at  sea 
and  on  shore  for  nearly  forty  years,  I  have  never  been 
able  to  learn,  as  you  call  it,  where  the  duck  and  curry 
out-haul  leads,  or  where  the  hauser-laid  codfish  halliards 
are  belayed." 

"  Nancy,"  said  the  captain,  "  do  you  expect  that  I  am 
going  to  reef  topsails  on  the  farm  when  there  is  a  heavy 
blow,  or  that  I  shall  raise  a  sail  and  want  a  spy-glass  to 
see  which  way  she  is  headed  ?  You  have  been  so  long  at 
sea  yourself,  that  you  are  actually  salted  through  and 
through." 

"  If  you  don't  want  a  storm-hat  or  spy-glass,  you  will  be 
wanting  something  every  hour  in  the  day,  and  my  hands 
will  be  full  of  milk  and  butter  and  the  like,  so  that  I 
can't  be  chasing  around  after  you  all  the  time." 

"Well,  well,  Nancy,  if  you  do  chase  me  around  with 
your  hands  full  of  milk  and  butter,  I  shall  certainly  need 
the  steward  to  swab  me  off  and  make  me  fit  to  see  company  ; 
but  as  for  duck  and  curry,  or  hauser-laid  codfish,  they 
are  dishes  that  none  but  a  sea-cook  can  properly  get  up. 
I  own,  my  dear  girl,  that  you  are  more  than  common  in 
the  line  of  good  roasts,  good  cakes  and  pies,  but  for 
a  sea-hash,  sea-pie,  duck  and  curry,  or  codfish  balls,  the 
old  steward  never  had  an  equal,  and  if  he  don't  go  with 
us,  I  shall  miss  him." 

"  And  what  are  you  going  to  do,  Joe    "or  some  one  to 


I0  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

pick  up  things  and  put  them  in  their  places,  some  one  to 
receive  and  execute  your  orders  ?  You  have  had  the 
Bo'son  with  you  so  long,  and  been  so  accustomed  to  de 
pend  on  him  to  do  about  everything,  that  you  will  be  lost 
without  him.  You  might  as  well  go  to  sea  without  a 
compass  as  to  go  on  a  farm  without  Bill  the  Bo'son.  In 
a  month  you  would  not  know  where  to  find  anything,  and 
might  have  some  difficulty  in  finding  yourself  ;  and  in 
two  months  you  wouldn't  be  able  to  tell  the  points  of  the 
compass." 

The  good  lady,  whose  best  feelings  were  enlisted  for 
the  welfare  of  the  family,  had  been  warming  up  all  the 
time,  so  she  continued  : 

"  As  for  myself,  I  shall  never  think  of  going  on  a  farm 
or  anywhere  else  without  Lizzie.  Why,  bless  your  eld 
heart,  Lizzie  has  sailed  with  us  so  long  that  she  knows  all 
the  ropes.  I  can't  do  without  her  any  better  than  you 
can  do  without  the  Bo'son  and  steward  ;  and  then  to  talk 
of  breaking  up  our  family  after  we  have  grown  old  to 
gether,  and  of  cutting  ourselves  adrift  from  a  crew  that 
have  sailed  with  us  on  so  many  voyages,  braved  with  us 
so  many  dangers,  and  served  us  so  faithfully  !  And  what 
could  the  poor  creatures  do  without  us  ?  They  are  get 
ting  old  like  ourselves,  have  no  friends  but  us,  no  home 
but  ours,  and  would  you  turn  your  back  on  them  in  their 
old  age  ?  If  you  do,  I  shall  be  ashamed  of  you  as  an  old 
sailor." 

"  Old  lady,  I  never  meant  any  such  thing,  and  you 
have  sailed  with  me  long  enough  to  know  better.  Who 
ever  heard  of  Joe  Waters  turning  his  back  on  a  friend  or 
shipmate,  or  of  his  being  unmindful  or  ungrateful  to  those 
who  had  served  him  ?  It  is  for  them,  as  well  as  for  our 
selves,  that  I  wish  to  arrange  a  comfortable  future." 

"  Yes,  Joseph,  I  do  know  your  heart,  for  I  have  sum 
mered  it  and  wintered  it,  sailed  with  it  on  every  ocean 
and  sea  known  to  navigators,  known  it  at  sea  and  on 
shore  for  nearly  forty  years,  and  it  has  been  less  changed 
by  time  and  climate  than  chronometers  and  compasses 
are.  I  do  know  better  than  to  think  that  you  will  leave 
the  Bo'son  and  steward  to  shift  for  themselves ;  and  as 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BVSON.  !  x 

for  Lizzie,  she  is  shipped  for  life,  either  at  sea  or  ashore. 
The  best  thing  you  can  do,  old  boy,  is  to  call  the  family 
together  and  tell  them  the  whole  story,  and  hear  what 
they'll  have  to  say  about  it.  I  know  they'll  all  feel  badly 
to  learn  that  the  '  Neptune  '  is  to  be  sold,  and  that  you  and 
I  have  made  our  last  voyage  ;  but  the  sooner  it  is  over 
the  better  it  will  be  for  us  all." 

"  My  good  woman,  you  are  on  the  right  tack  now,  as 
you  generally  are,  and  I'll  do  what  you  recommend,  and 
do  it  this  very  evening,  for  the  matter  has  been  a  heavy 
weight  on  my  heart  ever  since  I  concluded  not  to  make 
another  voyage.  It  will  be  hard  to  part  with  the  ship, 
but  harder  to  part  with  the  crew,  and  if  we  can  only 
take  them  with  us  to  the  farm,  we  shall  all  be  as  con 
tented  and  happy  there  as  we  have  been  on  shipboard." 


CHAPTER   II. 
THE  CAPTAIN'S  NEW  ARRANGEMENT  WITH  HIS  CREW. 

THE  ship  had  been  in  port  long  enough  after  her  last 
China  voyage  to  discharge  the  cargo,  and  was  now 
lying  at  the  foot  of  Rector  street,  New  York.  The 
officers  and  rest  of  the  crew  had  been  paid  off  and  dis 
charged,  leaving,  as  Mrs.  Waters  was  pleased  to  express 
it,  "The  family  to  themselves."  They  had  been  so  long 
accustomed  to  the  ship  and  to  their  own  limited  society, 
that  when  in  port  they  lived  on  board,  as  they  could 
enjoy  more  comforts  on  board  of  the  "  Neptune  "  than 
they  could  at  any  of  the  hotels. 

In  the  evening  the  Captain  called  them  into  the  cabin, 
and  requested  them  to  be  seated,  as  he  had  something  to 
say  that  would  take  time.  After  sitting  a  few  minutes,  the 
Captain  opened  the  subject  by  saying :  "  We  have  sailed 
long  together,  and  been  satisfied  with  each  other.  I 
have  made  my  last  voyage;  the  ship  'Neptune'  is  for 
^ale." 

It  was  all  that  he  could  say,  and  it  was  hard  for  him  to 


12  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

say  that.  It  is  only  those  who  have  long  followed  the  sea, 
been  long  attached  to  a  favorite  ship,  or  about  to  leave 
home  not  to  return,  who  can  appreciate  his  feelings,  or 
fully  understand  the  effort  it  cost  him  to  make  that  state 
ment. 

They  looked  at  each  other,  at  Mrs.  Waters,  and  at  the 
Captain,  and  all  of  them  appeared  astonished  and  dis 
mayed. 

The  Bo'son  was  the  first  to  speak,  which  he  did  after 
making  an  effort  very  much  like  trying  to  get  through  a 
hole  that  was  a  trifle  too  small  to  admit  his  body,  and  said  : 

"  And  what  in  the  name  of" — 

"  Hold  on,  Bo'son — no  hard  words  here — remember 
where  you  are." 

"  I  do  remember  where  I  am,  Cap'n,  and  wouldn't  use 
any  hard  words ;  but  what  in  the  name  of  the  sheet-anchor 
is  to  become  of  us?  " 

"  That,  Bo'son,  is  what  I  wish  to  find  out,  and  for  that 
I  have  called  you  all  into  the  cabin." 

The  steward  and  Lizzie  appeared  to  expect  the  Bo'son 
to  do  all  the  talking  and  make  the  best  arrangement  he 
could  for  the  whole  party;  and  as  the  ship  was  to  be 
given  up,  whatever  the  Bo'son  did,  or  agreed  to  do,  they 
would  be  satisfied  with,  and  also  do,  saying,  "  Bill  has 
sailed  longest  with  you  and  ought  to  know  best." 

"Cap'n  Waters,  in  the  first  place  I  want  to  know  where 
you  and  Mrs.  Waters  are  going  to  anchor  yourselves  for 
the  rest  of  life,  as  a  great  deal  depends  on  that,  as  re 
gards  what  the  Bo'son  will  conclude  to  do.  After  sailing 
with  you  twenty-seven  years,  and  the  last  seven  of  them 
in  the  ship  '  Neptune '  that  I  helped  build,  and  helped 
rig,  and  that  I  have  taken  so  much  pride  in,  before  I  will 
go  to  sea  in  any  other  ship,  or  with  any  other  man  or  wo 
man,  I'll  pull  the  stroke  oar  of  a  ferry-boat  between  New 
York  and  Blackwell's  Island,  and  ferry  over  criminals." 

The  captain  informed  them  that  after  having  spent  so 
many  years  on  the  ocean  and  in  roving  about  the  world, 
that  he  really  wanted  rest  and  a  home  on  the  land,  and 
that  he  intended  purchasing  a  farm,  and  on  it  spending 
his  remaining  days. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SOW.  13 

The  Bo'son  brightened  up  at  once  and  said  : 

"  How,  in  the  name  of " 

"  Hold  on  again,  Bo'son,  what  are  you  about  ;  do  you 
forget  yourself  ? " 

"Well,  sir,  I  am  holding  on  all  I  can,  but  how,  in  the 
name  of  old  Neptune,  do  you  expect  to  sail  a  farm  with 
out  your  Bo'son  and  steward  ?  And  how  is  Mrs.  Waters 
to  scull  the  pantry  without  Lizzie  ?  You  will  be  singing 
out,  '  Bo'son,  Bo'son,  where  is  the  hand-lead  and  line, 
where  is  the  spare  pump  gear  ?  Bo'son,  call  all  hands 
and  ready  about ;'  and  no  Bo'son  on  board  to  answer, 
'  aye,  aye,  sir  ! '  A  fine  time  you  will  have  navigating  a 
farm  without  your  old  Bo'son  on  board." 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  were  much  amused  at  Bill's 
notion  of  sailing  and  navigating  a  farm,  for  they  knew 
that  the  Bo'son  had  never  been  three  miles  inland  in  his 
life.  What  he  thought  the  captain  would  want  of  a  hand- 
lead  and  line,  or  how  often  he  expected  the  farm  to  be 
put  about,  was  more  than  they  could  tell. 

"  You  know,  sir,"  continued  the  Bo'son,  "  that  I  am  as 
good  a  carpenter  and  blacksmith  as  I  am  a  Bo'son  ;  that 
I  am  as  handy  with  an  axe  and  a  stick  of  timber,  or  a 
piece  of  hot  iron  and  a  hammer  as  I  am  with  a  marline- 
spike  and  a  piece  of  rope  ;  and  I  can't  see  how  you  are 
going  to  do  without  me.  For  twenty-seven  years  I  have 
been  learning  all  that  I  could,  so  as  to  be  more  useful  on 
board  of  your  ship  ;  and  for  many  vovages  you  have 
never  wanted  anything  done  that  I  couldn't  do,  nor  any 
thing  made  that  I  couldn't  make,  and  now  you  talk  of 
selling  the  ship,  and  cutting  your  Bo'son  and  steward 
adrift,  and  of  navigating  a  farm  all  by  yourself.  Well, 
sir,  you  just  go  and  try  it  once,  and  see  where  you  will 
fetch  the  first  tack, — if  you  undertake  any  such  voyage 
without  your  steward  I'll  bet  my  best  go-ashore  trous 
ers  against  nothing,  that  in  less  than  a  month  you  will 
lose  your  appetite  and  be  as  thin  as  a  midshipman  on 
board  of  a  man-of  war,  or  the  second  mate  of  a  merchant 
ship  ;  and  if  you  go  without  your  Bo'son  you  will  never 
find  anything,  and  be  lucky  if  you  find  yourself.  The 
first  spell  of  foggy  weather  you  have,  for  want  of  a  good 


,4  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

look-out  forward  and  a  hand  to  heave  the  lead,  you  will 
run  the  old  farm  hard  and  fast  ashore,  and  she  will  be  a 
total  loss." 

The  captain  and  his  lady  had  a  hearty  laugh  at  Bill's 
idea  of  running  a  farm  ashore,  but  observing  that  he  and 
the  others  remained  very  serious,  the  captain  said,  "  Go 
on,  Bo'son." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  if,  after  all  you  have  done  for  me,  you  go 
and  sell  the  '  Neptune '  without  giving  me  notice  one  voy 
age  ahead,  and  then  turn  me  adrift  on  dry  land  to  starve, 
and  no  one  to  look  after  me,  I'll  just  go  and  raise  partic 
ular  and  extra " 

"  Hold  on,  Bo'son,  what  are  you  about  to  say  ?"  inter 
posed  the  captain. 

"  Mischief,"  continued  Bill,  "  and  you  can  bet  your  best 
bow-anchor  against  the  flyjib  downhaul  that  I'll  do  it, 
for  I'll  take  the  image  of  old  Neptune  from  the  bow  of 
the  ship  and  burn  it,  scuttle  and  sink  the  ship  alongside 
of  the  wharf,  and  then  drown  myself ;  that  is  what  the 
Bo'son  will  do." 

Bill  was  laboring  under  deeper  feelings  than  he  had 
ever  realized  before.  During  the  many  years  that  he  had 
been  sailing  with  Captain  Waters,  he  had  thought  but  lit 
tle  about  the  future,  nor  had  he  ever  seriously  contem 
plated  the  possibility  of  a  separation  from  the  captain,  his 
lady,  his  ship,  and  the  others  that  had  sailed  so  long  with 
him. 

They  all  knew  that  the  Bo'son  was  speaking  from  his 
heart,  while  he  was  fearing  that  he  might  be  deserted  and 
left  without  home  or  friends.  His  attachment  :o  the 
Captain,  Mrs.  Waters  and  the  others,  was  as  strong  and 
sincere  as  his  true  character  was  noble  and  generous. 

"  Bo'son,"  said  the  Captain,  "  I  don't  wish  or  mean  to 
turn  you  adrift,  or  desert  you,  for  you  have  been  the  best 
and  truest  man  that  has  even  sailed  with  me,  and  your 
old  Captain  is  not  ashamed  to  tell  you  so.  I  have  done 
but  little  for  you,  while  you  have  done  much  for  me,  and 
now  you  may  claim  and  receive  your  reward. 

Bill's  eyes  and  face  again  brightened  and  he  said  ; 

"  Yes,  Cap'n,  you  and  Mrs.  Waters  have  done  every- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  xg 

thing  for  me,  made  a  man  of  me,  you  have  been  father 
and  mother  to  me,  and  the  only  ones  that  I  have  had. 
When  I  first  shipped  with  you  I  was  a  poor  drunken 
sailor,  without  a  friend  or  dollar  in  the  world,  and  now  I 
am  a  sober  man,  with  a  good  account  in  the  Seaman's 
Saving  Bank,  and  all  by  your  kindness  and  good  treat 
ment." 

Bill's  feelings  were  getting  the  best  of  him,  and  he  had 
to  put  a  stopper  on,  and  there  appeared  to  be  a  little  diffi 
culty  in  the  throats  of  them  all,  so  the  Captain  by  way  of 
relief  said  : 

"  Bo'son,  you  have  always  been  at  sea  and  know  noth 
ing  about  the  land,  and  I  have  thought  you  might  be  un 
willing  to  give  up  your  occupation,  and  if  you  did  you 
might  not  be  contented  in  the  country  ;  the  work  and 
duty  on  a  farm  is  so  different  from  what  it  is  on  ship 
board,  that  you  would  have  everything  to  learn." 

"  Suppose,  sir,  the  work  is  all  different,  is  that  a  good 
reason  for  you  leaving  the  Bo'son  ashore  when  you  have 
a  new  ship,  and  are  going  to  sail  in  a  new  latitude  ?  Can't 
I  learn  what  I  don't  know  ?  What  are  you  going  to  do  if 
you  are  struck  with  a  squall  and  carry  away  a  spar,  and 
no  carpenter  on  board  to  make  another, — or  part  a  topsail- 
sheet  or  tie,  and  no  Bo'son  ready  with  a  coupling  ? " 

"  Bo'son,  we  never  have  or  need  such  things  on  a  farm." 

While  the  Captain  was  replying  to  the  Bo'son,  his  at 
tention  was  attracted  in  an  opposite  direction,  and  he 
heard  a  whisper;  turning  again,  Bill  said  : 

"  Well,  sir,  suppose  you  part  a  log-chain,  or  want  the 
tongue  of  an  ox-cart  fished,  how  then  ? " 

"  Mutiny  !  mutiny  !  "  cried  the  Captain.  "  Mrs.  Waters, 
you  have  been  whispering  in  Bill's  ear,  or  he  would  never 
have  steered  that  course." 

"Well,  Capt'n,  what  if  I  did, — it  was  all  for  the  good  of 
the  family,  and  couldn't  I  help  the  Bo'son  along  in  his 
trouble  without  the  charge  of  mutiny  being  brought  against 
me  ?" 

The  Bo'son  was  much  excited,  and  showed  more  anxi 
ety  than  he  had  before  exhibited  on  any  occasion,  and  he 
went  on  to  say  : 


l&  CAPTAM  WATERS 

"  I  don't  see,  sir,  why  you  want  to  cut  me  adrift  and 
abandon  me  to  the  underwriters  ?  I  am  still  fit  for  duty, 
and  can  earn  my  feed.  I  want  no  wages  :  all  I  want  is 
room  under  deck  to  sling  my  hammock,  and  an  even 
chance  at  the  mess-kid,  and  you  might  be  willing  to  let 
me  work  my  passage  in  a  new  ship,  and  not  leave  me 
here  alone  to  be  murdered  and  eaten  up  by  the  land 
sharks." 

Captain  Waters  believed  himself  proof  against  being 
overcome  by  his  feelings,  but  Bill's  friendship  and  earn 
estness  was  more  than  he  could  well  master.  He  left  his 
seat,  and  taking  the  Bo'son  by  the  hand,  said  : 

"  Bill,  you  old  sea-dog  !  when  I  desert  you  or  leave  you 
ashore  with  your  colors  at  half-mast,  may  the  chronome 
ter  run  down,  the  compass  lose  its  attraction,  the  ship 
leak,  the  pumps  become  choked,  and  the  rudder  unhung  ; 
and  then  may  I  be  coming  on  the  American  coast  in  the 
winter  season,  with  thick  weather  and  heavy  head-winds. 
Now  Bill,  if  you  think  you  can  live  ashore,  and  would  like 
to  try  your  hand  at  farming,  only  say  the  word  and  you 
are  shipped  for  a  long  voyage,  but  you  must  promise  me 
never  to  swear  while  you  are  on  the  farm." 

"  I'll  do  it,  sir,  and  take  my  oath  never  to  swear  with 
out  your  orders,  if  you  will  take  me  with  you,  and  let  me 
carry  the  old  dog  along,"  was  Bill's  reply. 

"  You  can  take  the  dog,  Bo'son,  for  we  should  all  miss 
him,  and  he  would  miss  us.  He  never  had  any  home  but 
the  ship,  nor  any  friends  but  such  as  he  has  made  on 
board.  You  will  both  be  natural  curiosities  in  the  coun 
try, — a  pair  of  well  matched  sea-dogs.  You  will  under 
stand  that  your  wages  will  be  the  same  on  the  farm  that 
they  have  been  on  the  ship.  No  man  can  serve  me  at 
sea  or  on  shore  without  wages." 

"What,"  exclaimed  Bill,  "do  I  want  of  wages?  You 
know,  sir,  that  I  have  money  in  the  bank,  and  no  use 
for  it." 

"  You  can't  tell,  Bo'son,  what  may  happen.  Who  knows 
but,  after  learning  the  business  of  farming,  you  may  buy 
a  farm,  get  married  and  become  a  farmer  yourself.  Never 
fire  the  last  shot  you  have  in  the  locker,  if  you  can  help  it." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SON.  I7 

"  Hurrah  !  "  cried  Bill ;  "  haul  aft  the  head  sheets  and 
let  her  luff  a  little.  Bill  Thomas,  the  old  Bo'son,  is  going 
to  be  a  farmer  and  have  a  wife.  Keep  a  sharp  look-out 
ahead." 

As  all  was  now  arranged  with  the  Bo'son,  the  Captain 
informed  the  steward  and  Lizzie  that  he  and  Mrs.  Waters 
were  anxious  that  they  should  continue  in  the  family  and 
go  with  them  to  the  country.  They  cheerfully  consented, 
and  the  arrangements  were  completed. 

The  evening  party  separated,  each  feeling  cheerful  and 
happy,  and  all  fully  uniting  with  Mrs.  Waters  in  the  hope 
she  expressed,  "  That  all  would  have  good  weather  and 
fair  winds." 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE    BO'SON,    STEWARD    AND    LIZZIE. 

AFTER  leaving  the  cabin,  the  Bo'son,  steward  and  Liz 
zie  went  on  deck  together,  as  it  was  a  lovely  moon 
light  evening. 

Bill  was  never  before  known  to  be  so  excited,  or  to  act 
so  much  like  a  boy.  He  scaled  his  best  tarpaulin  hat 
forward  and  blew  his  Bo'son's  call  for  all  hands,  which  was 
answered  by  the  old  dog  Bose.  Bill  told  the  dog  that  all 
hands  were  shipped  for  a  long  voyage,  and  no  going  aloft. 
He  seized  the  old  steward  and  danced  him  "  fore  and 
aft "  the  deck,  until  the  poor  fellow  wa*s  completely  out  of 
breath ;  and  then  put  his  arms  around  Lizzie's  neck  and 
actually  kissed  her,  a  liberty  he  had  never  before  taken, 
though  they  had  been  sailing  together  over  twenty  years. 

Lizzie  said  :  "  Get  away,  Bill !  How  dare  you  ?  What 
do  you  mean,  you  sea-monster  ?  " 

Bill  did  get  away,  and  subsided  into  himself  again  with 
the  remark : 

"  I  don't  mean  any  wrong — only  all  hands  and  the  dog 
are  going  in  the  new  ship,  with  the  old  captain  and  his 
mate.  Hurrah  !  hurrah !  for  the  new  ship  and  the  old 
crew.  Who  says  the  Bo'son  isn't  a  happy  boy  now? 


,8  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

When  I  was  in  the  cabin,  and  thought  that  we  were  all  to 
be  discharged,  and  may  be  never  see  each  other  again, 
after  making  so  many  voyages  together,  my  heart  was 
stowed  away  in  the  lower  hold,  with  the  whole  cargo 
stowed  above  it,  and  I  didn't  think  it  would  ever  be 
hoisted  out  again;  so  I  concluded  that  we  should  all 
founder  with  no  insurance  on  us.  Now  my  heart  is  on 
deck  again,  and  can  be  reckoned,  or  stowed  away,  as  light 
freight." 

"Can  it,"  asked  the  steward,  "be  counted  as  small 
stowage  ?  " 

"No,  steward,  my  heart  is  as  large  as  a  four-barrel 
cask  to-night,  and  I  think  would  hold  as  many  good 
things,  if  I  only  had  them  to  put  in  it,"  was  Bill's  ready 
reply. 

"Is  it  large  enough,"  inquired  Lizzie,  "to  hold  the 
love  of  a  good-sized  corn-fed  country  wife — such  a  one 
as  the  captain  spoke  of  this  evening  ? " 

"  Lizzie,  you  just  please  put  your  lips  in  the  becket, 
and  let  me  tell  you,  if  Bill  Thomas  ever  marries,  it  will 
be  the  most  unlikely  thing  that  has  happened  in  many 
years,  and  the  woman  that  he  marries  will  know  a  good 
deal  about  salt  water.  You  can  hoist  that  on  board  and 
stow  it  away,  and  be  sure  that  it  is  well  stowed,  or  it  may 
be  damaged  by  heavy  weather." 

The  three  remained  some  time  on  deck,  and  then  Bill 
invited  them  to  his  room  in  the  midship-house.  The 
room  was  large  and  well  arranged  with  many  comforts 
and  conveniences  ;  a  place  for  everything,  and  everything 
in  its  place.  After  sitting  together  in  silence  for  a  short 
time,  the  steward  said  : 

"  Bo'son,  you  will  miss  this  room,  that  you  have  fitted 
up  with  so  much  care,  and  where  you  have  spent  so  many 
years,  and  with  which  you  have  so  many  associations." 

"  Yes,  steward,  that  is  so,  but  I  shall  have  a  larger  one 
in  the  new  ship,  that  I  can  fit  up  like  this,  and  possibly 
make  some  improvements  on." 

The  steward  sat  a  few  minutes  in  thoughtful  silence, 
and  then  said  : 

"  I  don't  know  how  it  will  be,  but  something  speaks  to 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON  19 

my  heart  and  says  '  it  is  all  right,'  and  I  am  satisfied  that 
it  will  be  so.  I  could  not  talk  when  we  were  in  the  cabin, 
and  you  were  very  nearly  ashore  a  number  of  times,  Bill, 
while  you  were  talking  with  the  captain  ;  and  the  lady  gave 
you  one  good  tow  into  deep  water." 

"  Yes,  Steward,  that  is  so  ;  I  was  hard  aground  a  num 
ber  of  times,  because  I  had  never  sounded  out  the  chan 
nel,  and  didn't  know  where  the  deepest  water  was  ;  but 
Mrs.  Captain  gave  me  one  course  by  which  I  steered 
clear  of  some  sunken  rocks  ;  and  then,  somehow,  I  can't 
say  exactly  how,  my  mind  was'nt  clear,  and  my  heart  got 
shifted  like  a  badly  stowed  cargo  in  a  heavy  gale  of 
wind." 

"  Bill,  I  have  been  steward  with  Captain  Waters  over 
twenty  years,  and  you  have  been  seaman  and  Bo'son  much 
longer  ;  and  Lizzie  came  on  board  only  one  year  after  I 
did,  and  together  we  have  been  sailing  many  times  around 
the  world,  and  across  every  ocean,  visiting  all  the  princi 
pal  commercial  ports,  until  we  began  to  think  that  we 
should  never  be  separated.  Without  any  warning  we 
were  called  into  the  cabin  and  told  that  there  were  no 
more  voyages  to  be  made, — the  ship  was  to  be  sold,  and 
the  question  came  up  with  us  all,  '  What  is  to  become  of 
us  ? '  I  could  never  go  to  sea  with  any  other  man  than 
Captain  Waters,  because  he  is  the  only  one  that  knows 
my  history  and  would  treat  me  accordingly.  I  hope  I  am 
a  Christian,  and  if  I  am,  Captain  Waters  and  his  lady 
have  been  instruments  in  making  me  such,  and  I  owe 
them  much.  I  have  in  my  room  many  valuable  books, 
some  in  English,  some  in  French  and  some  in  Spanish, 
and  I  have  read  them  all.  With  a  perfect  knowledge  of 
these  languages,  I  have  served  him  twenty-two  years  as 
steward,  and  all  that  time  I  have  been  a  man,  and  the 
captain  has  recognized  and  treated  me  as  a  man,  and  for 
that  he  will  ever  have  my  esteem." 

Bill  replied  to  the  steward:  "I  know  that  you  have  been 
kindly  treated  by  the  Captain  and  his  wife,  and  so  have 
we  all,  or  we  should  not  have  sailed  so  long  together,  but 
I  know  nothing  of  your  early  history.  I  only  know  that 
you  have  been  a  good  steward,  that  you  have  always  had 


20  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

the  meals  ready  at  the  hour,  the  cabin  in  order,  and  that 
you  have  been  a  man  of  few  words  and  many  deeds  ;  and 
that  Captain  Waters  believes  you  one  of  the  best  cooks 
that  ever  made  a  sea-hash." 

Bo'son,  there  is  nothing  in  my  early  history  that  I  need 
be  ashamed  of,  but  much  that  saddened  a  youthful  heart. 
Some  of  the  reasons  why  I  have  preferred  remaining  stew 
ard  with  our  captain,  must,  for  a  time,  remain  as  secrets. 
It  is  enough  that  I  am  strongly  attached  to  him  and  his 
lady,  that  they  know  my  history,  have  been  very  consid 
erate  with  me,  have  taught  me  to  look  on  the  brightest 
side  of  life,  and  never  to  doubt  the  power  and  goodness 
of  God." 

Lizzie  asked  if  either  of  them  could  tell  her  "what 
there  was  about  Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  that  forms  so 
strong  a  tie  to  bind  us  all  to  them  ? " 

Bill  answered,  "  In  the  first  place  they  understand  them 
selves,  and  something  of  human  nature.  They  don't  think 
because  they  have  made  and  saved  some  money,  that  the 
whole  world  belongs  to  them,  with  all  that  is  in  it.  They 
have  minds  to  understand,  and  hearts  to  feel,  and  they 
believe  others  have  :  They  have  a  kind  and  pleasant 
word  for  everyone,  and  never  an  unkind  word  for  anyone. 
They  never  boast  of  what  they  have,  or  what  they  have 
done,  but  keep  doing  something  every  day,  to  help  some 
body,  and  make  everybody  love  them, — that  is  the  secret, 
Lizzie." 

"  I  believe,"  said  Lizzie,  "  you  are  right  Bill,  and  since 
it  is  arranged  that  we  are  all  going  on  the  farm,  there  is 
but  little  chance  of  our  being  separated  in  this  world,  ex 
cept  by  death.  We  shall  have  much  time  in  the  country 
to  talk  of  the  past,  and  as  it  is  getting  late,  we  had  better 
say  to  each  other  good-night." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  2I 

CHAPTER  IV. 

BILL  THOMAS,  THE  BO'SON. 

BILL  Thomas  was  born  somewhere  in  England,  but 
where,  he  couldn't  say,  nor  did  he  know  exactly  when. 
All  that  he  could  tell  was,  that  when  a  very  small  boy, 
and  as  early  as  he  could  remember,  he  was  living  at  a 
Sea-port,  and  in  a  building  called  the  Work-House.  He 
had  no  knowledge  of  a  father,  mother,  nor  of  any  relatives. 
He  thinks  he  must  have  been  about  ten  years  old  when 
he  was  put  on  board  of  a  small  brig  called  the  "  Sunder- 
land,"  that  had  discharged  a  cargo  of  coal  at  the  port 
where  he  had  been  living,  and  that  he  never  afterwards 
visited,  nor  could  he  remember  the  name  of  the  place,  if 
he  ever  knew  it. 

He  went  to  New  Castle  and  loaded  with  coal  for  Lon 
don,  and  continued  nearly  three  years  in  the  coal  trade. 
He  was  called  Bill,  and  that  was  the  only  name  he  had 
until  the  captain  took  charge  of  another  vessel,  where 
there  was  an  older  boy  named  Bill,  and  after  that  they 
called  him  Tom. 

While  he  was  on  board  of  each  of  those  two  vessels — and 
during  all  that  time  he  was  treated  with  great  cruelty  by 
the  master,  his  mates  and  men, — he  was  told  that  he  was 
an  apprentice  to  the  captain,  and  if  he  attempted  to  de 
sert  he  would  be  put  in  prison. 

When  he  was  about  sixteen  years  old  he  went  in  the 
vessel  to  the  Island  of  Fayal.  On  that  voyage  a  new  man 
was  shipped,  whose  name  was  Joe  Western.  Joe  was  the 
first  friend  that  Bill  had  ever  known,  and  their  friendship 
then  formed  was  renewed  and  enjoyed  at  a  later  period. 

Joe  could  protect  Bill  from  ill-usage  by  the  men,  but 
not  from  the  cruelty  of  the  master,  and  he  advised  and  as 
sisted  Bill  to  run  away.  He  arranged  with  a  native  to 
take  Bill  up  on  the  mountain  and  keep  him  there  until 
the  brig  sailed,  and  then  made  the  captain  believe  the 
boy  had  fallen  overboard  and  been  drowned. 

After  the  brig  had  sailed,  Bill  came  down  and  shipped 
on  board  of  a  New  Bedford  whaler.  When  asked  his 


22  CAPTAIN   WATERS 

name,  he  said  "  Tom,"  and  when  his  other  name  was 
called  for  he  answered,  "  Bill,  sir."  The  captain  asked 
him  which  was  his  first  name,  and  he  said  "  Bill."  "  Is 
your  name,"  said  his  new  captain,  "  Bill  Thomas  ? " 
"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Bill  quickly,  pleased  to  find  that  he 
actually  had  two  names  to  go  on  the  Shipping  Articles, 
and  that  was  where  and  when  he  was  christened  Bill 
Thomas,  a  name  he  has  ever  since  borne. 

Bill  made  a  number  of  whaling  voyages  from  New 
Bedford,  rising  to  the  position  of  "  harponeersman,"  and 
acquitting  himself  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  superior  offi 
cers.  The  history  and  particulars  of  those  voyages  will 
be  related  by  himself,  and  in  his  own  language,  at  a  proper 
time. 

He  served  three  years  on  board  of  a  man-of-war,  and 
was  also  on  board  of  a  number  of  merchant  ships  before 
he  sailed  with  Captain  Waters ;  always  sailing  under  the 
American  flag,  after  running  away  from  his  first  captain. 
He  had  been  about  all  over  the  world,  and  in  most  of 
the  ports  known  to  commerce. 

When  the  captain  shipped  him  at  Honolulu,  Sandwich 
Islands,  he  must  have  been  about  twenty-three  years  old, 
and  at  the  time  of  selling  the  ship  he  was  fifty  years 
of  age,  though  he  did  not  look  to  be  over  forty.  Bill  had 
at  the  time  of  shipping  been  long  sick  in  the  hospital, 
and  was  not  really  fit  for  duty,  but  the  captain  was  short- 
handed,  men  were  scarce,  and  he  concluded  to  take  him. 

The  captain  had  not  been  long  at  sea  before  he  dis 
covered  that  Bill  had  peculiar  traits,  and  was  a  superior 
man.  For  personal  cleanliness,  industry  and  order  about 
everything,  the  captain  had  never  seen  his  equal  among 
sailors.  He  was  then  a  good  sailor  for  one  of  his  expe 
rience,  but  not  the  full  and  perfect  seaman  that  he  was 
twenty-seven  years  later. 

His  great  ambition  was  to  learn  anything  and  every 
thing  that  was  worth  knowing,  or  that  would  make  him 
more  useful  on  board  of  a  ship.  He  was,  when  first  sail 
ing  with  Captain  Waters,  always  pleased  to  assist  the  car 
penter  or  blacksmith  of  the  ship,  because,  as  he  said,  "  he 
could  learn  something  every  time." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON. 


23 


One  of  the  strongest  traits  in  his  character  was  that 
of  goo'd  nature.  Few  circumstances,  however  annoying, 
could  divest  him  of  it,  and  he  would  often  be  highly 
amused  with  things  that  very  much  disturbed  others. 
Nothing  but  a  positive  and  unprovoked  insult  would  call 
forth  and  show  to  others  that  he  possessed  the  finest  feel 
ings  of  right  and  wrong,  and  when  he  was  once  aroused 
in  the  justice  of  his  own  or  the  cause  of  others,  punish 
ment  was  sure  to  be  inflicted  on  the  offenders. 

His  love  of  innocent  fun  was  inate,  and  with  him  irre- 
sistable.  He  would  go  without  his  dinner,  and  do  with 
out  sleep  to  enjoy  it.  He  has  often  been  heard  to  say 
that  "  I  can  live  and  grow  fat  on  good  fun,  provided  it 
harms  no  one." 

He  was  never  known  to  have  a  difficulty  of  his  own 
with  any  of  the  officers,  or  with  any  of  his  shipmates ; 
but  he  often  interfered  in  the  quarrels  of  others,  to  take 
the  part  of  the  weak,  or  to  protect  the  right.  No  sailor 
could  harm  a  boy  where  Bill  Thomas  was,  and  his  great 
delight  was  to  show  a  young  sailor  how  to  do  a  piece  of 
work,  and  help  him  in  his  duty,  until  he  could  do  it  him 
self.  ' 

He  would  "  steer  the  trick,"  or  stand  the  look-out  of 
any  shipmate  that  did  not  feel  well,  and  help  any  one  that 
was  in  trouble.  He  was  generally  the  first  man  on  deck 
when  his  watch  was  called ;  the  first  aloft  when  there  was 
duty  to  do,  and  Bill's  "  Aye  !  aye  !  sir,"  was  always  heard 
when  an  order  was  given.  He  could  not  fail  of  being  ,a 
favorite  with  his  officers,  for  he  must  indeed  be  a  very 
bad  officer  who  would  misuse  an  extra  good  seaman. 

Bill,  when  first  sailing  with  Captain  Waters,  would  have 
and  drink  his  grog,  and  often  drink  too  much,  but  even 
then,  when  he  was  "  three  sheets  in  the  wind,"  and  a  lit 
tle  too  drunk  for  duty,  he  was  respectful  to  his  superiors 
and  kind  to  his  equals.  He  was  so  good-natured  when 
under  the  influence  of  drink,  and  his  love  of  fun  was 
so  fully  displayed,  that  no  officer  could  possibly  feel  out 
of  humor  with  him.  It  was  when  under  the  influence  of 
strong  drink  on  shore,  that  he  would  foolishly  part  with 
his  hard-earned  money,  and  even  his  clothing,  without 


24  CA*  j.  'AIN  WA  TERS 

receiving  any  fair  consideration  for  them.  He  was  never 
cured  of  his  love  for  drink  until  after  the  captain  became 
convinced  that  it  was  useless  to  have  liquor  at  sea,  and 
shipped  his  crews  with  the  understanding  that  no  grog 
would  be  served  or  allowed  on  board.  Bill  found  that  he 
could  do  without  grog  at  sea,  and  concluded  that  he 
could  on  shore.  He  soon  discovered  that  the  captain 
and  all  hands  were  better  off  without  their  grog,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  first  voyage  on  which  it  was  not  used,  he 
joined  the  New  York  Marine  Temperance  Society,  and 
ever  since  has  been  a  sober  man. 

Bill  was  also  a  great  swearer  when  he  first  sailed  with 
Captain  Waters,  and  never  quite  got  over  it ;  and  he  had 
some  new-coined  expressions  of  his  own  that  he  used  on 
occasions,  and  that  were  very  forcible  in  themselves,  and 
when  fully  understood,  were  very  appropriate.  He  never 
appeared  to  swear  at  anybody,  but,  as  he  expressed  it, 
he  "would  let  out  at  times,  and  couldn't  help  it.  What 
is  the  difference  between  swearing  and  meaning  no  harm, 
or  praying  and  meaning  no  good  ?  I  think  I  must  have 
taken  to  swearing  naturally,  because  it  comes  so  easy  to 
me  and  at  times  appears  to  be  a  part  of  my  duty." 

Among  Bill's  many  other  qualifications,  that  of  telling 
good  stories  should  not  be  forgotten,  and  will  not  be,  if 
his  friends  have  patience  to  listen  to  him.  He  could 
neither  read  nor  write  when  he  first  joined  the  ship,  nor 
for  many  years  afterwards.  When  the  steward  went  on 
board,  Bill  found  him  to  be  well  educated,  and  spent 
much  time  in  hearing  the  steward  read,  and  from  him 
learned  himself  to  read  and  write. 

Bill  was  five  feet  five  inches  high,  and  stout  built  in 
body,  with  limbs  well  proportioned,  and  calculated  by  na 
ture  for  hard  labor  and  great  endurance.  He  stood 
erect,  and  when  he  moved  he  did  so  with  ease  and  in  a 
style  peculiar  to  many  sailors,  and  especially  so  to  him. 
His  head  was  round,  and  well  covered  with  dark,  curly 
hair  ;  his  neck  short  and  stout ;  his  eyes  small,  dark  and 
very  bright.  He  wore  side-whiskers,  following  the  line 
of  the  jaw  and  rounding  up  towards  the  corners  of  the 
tnouth. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  25 

He  always  had  a  pleasant,  cheerful  face,  that  was  a  fair 
index  of  an  honest  and  noble  heart  within.  He  was  ever 
clean  in  his  dress,  but  discarded  with  disgust  all  articles 
of  dress  used  generally  by  landsmen.  He  never  owned 
a  coat  and  said  he  "  never  would  wear  one  ;"  he  nevei 
had  a  fur  or  silk  hat,  because  they  were  more  for  show 
than  use,  and  looked  worse  than  a  tarpaulin  hat,  aftei 
they  had  been  once  well  wet.  "  Give  me,"  said  Bill,  "  3 
hat  that  will  stand  water  and  be  as  good  as  new." 

Bill  Thomas,  the  Bo'son,  in  dress  and  action  united  in 
himself  all  the  elements  and  character  of  a  well  salted 
son  of  the  ocean.  The  sailor  could  be  seen  in  his  walk, 
for  he  always  kept  his  feet  well  apart  and  toes  a  little  out, 
a  habit  acquired  at  sea  in  catching  the  roll  and  motion  of 
the  ship. 


CHAPTER  V. 

BILL    THE    BO'SON. 

A  FTER  Bill  had  made  a  few  voyages  with  Captain  Waters, 
**  and  the  captain  had  found  out  his  good  qualities 
and  corrected  some  of  his  bad  habits,  he  wanted  to  make 
a  second  mate  of  him,  but  Bill  said  "  No,  sir ;  for  then 
I  shall  be  called  mister,  and  when  on  shore  have  to  wear 
a  ring-tailed  jacket  (coat),  and  that  will  never  do  for 
Bill."  He  finally  consented  to  be  Bo'son,  and  soon  be 
came  not  only  pleased  with  the  position,  but  so  useful  and 
so  efficient,  that  on  a  voyage  he  would  have  been  as  much 
missed  as  one  of  the  higher  officers. 

After  sailing  with  the  captain  for  a  number  of  voyages 
as  Bo'son,  the  captain  learned  to  trust  much  to  him  and 
the  steward,  and  to  depend  on  them  to  see  that  every 
thing  needed  for  a  voyage  was  on  board  before  sailing 
from  a  port.  Each  succeeding  voyage  increased  his  con 
fidence  in  the  Bo'son,  and  he  depended  more  on  him. 
After  Bill  had  become  a  good  carpenter  and  blacksmith, 
he  was  still  more  useful,  and  always  kept  himself  busy 
about  something. 


,6  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

He  had  the  rare  faculty  of  getting  much  work  out  of 
the  men,  when  extra  duty  was  to  be  done ;  and  at  the 
same  time,  of  keeping  them  all  good  natured,  by  infusing 
into  them  a  portion  of  his  own  happy  disposition.  If 
there  was  a  bad  man  among  the  crew,  Bill  would  make  a 
good  one  of  him  if  possible ;  if  not,  keep  him  at  such  duty 
by  himself  as  would  prevent  him  from  exercising  any 
material  influence  over  the  rest  of  the  crew. 

There  were  always,  when  at  sea,  two  mates  on  board  of 
the  ship,  each  occupying  a  superior  position  to  that  of 
the  Bo 'son,  and  yet  Bill  so  faithfully  performed  all  his 
duties,  without  assuming  anything  to  himself  that  did  not 
belong  to  his  office,  or  ever  presuming  to  interfere  with  the 
duties  of  his  superior  officers,  that  not  a  single  complaint 
ever  came  to  the  captain  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  each  and 
all  of  the  officers  would  say,  at  the  end  of  a  voyage,  that 
their  duties  had  been  lessened  and  made  more  pleasant 
by  the  efficiency  of  the  Bo'son. 

It  sometimes  happened  that  the  second  mate  would  be 
a  very  young  man,  nothing  but  a  boy  in  years  to  Bill,  and 
often  taken  from  among  the  crew  that  had  sailed  under 
the  Bo'son:  bat  that  made  no  difference, — Bill  would  be  as 
respectful,  and  as  ready  to  obey  his  orders,  as  though  they 
had  never  changed  positions.  Many  a  young  officer 
has  had  great  cause  to  be  glad  that  such  a  Bo'son  was  on 
board,  to  quietly  instruct  and  assist  him  in  his  duties. 
Some  of  Bill's  mottoes  were  :  "  Show  a  young  officer  his 
duty,  teach  him  what  he  don't  know,  and  do  both  privately. 
How  can  a  man  know  what  he  has  never  learned? 
Every  officer  and  man  to  his  own  duty.  Obey  orders  if 
you  break  the  owners-" 

Bill  was  a  natural  mechanic,  and  could  make  anything 
that  be  had  ever  seen  made,  and  a  great  many  things 
that  he  never  had  seen  made.  He  could  do  most  any 
thing  that  he  had  ever  seen  done,  but  sometimes  he 
thought  he  could  do  things  that  he  found  it  very  difficult 
to  accomplish,  and  in  a  few  instances  he  had  attempted 
impossibilities.  It  was  one  of  his  common  expressions  : 
*  Show  me  «**»»»*l*mg  that  looks,  or  is  like  what  you  want, 
and  I  think  I  can  make  it, — at  any  rate  I  will  try." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  27 

In  speaking  on  the  subject  once,  he  said  :  "  I  have  at 
tempted  things  that  I  couldn't  do.  I  once  attempted  to 
'shin  up'  (climb)  a  well  'slushed'  (greased)  flag-staff 
for  five  dollars.  It  was  on  a  fourth  of  July,  in  Boston, 
late  in  the  afternoon,  and  I  had  been  drinking  pretty 
freely,  and  I  couldn't  do  it.  I  didn't  know  that  it  had 
been  well  slushed  when  I  offered  to  '  shin  up,'  and  reeve 
the  signal  halliards,  but  I  soon  found  it  out,  when  I  tried 
and  heard  the  people  laugh,  and  then  I  felt  spunky  and 
tried  all  the  more,  and  the  more  I  tried  the  more  the  peo 
ple  laughed,  and  the  more  I  couldn't  do  it.  I  came  very 
near  doing  it,  and  believe  I  would  have  done  it,  if  the  staff 
had  been  a  little  larger,  and  I  hadn't  been  drinking  so 
much  bad  rum.  After  getting  my  hands  and  trousers  well 
slushed  from  the  staff,  I  rubbed  sand  over  them  and 
would  work  up  a  piece,  hang  on  as  long  as  I  could,  and 
then  come  down  and  get  more  sand,  and  try  again ;  each 
time  going  a  little  higher,  and  each  time  that  I  came  down 
all  the  people  would  laugh,  and  I  would  help  them. 
After  many  efforts,  and  the  use  of  much  sand,  I  got  up 
where  the  staff  was  very  small,  and  there  was  no  chance 
for  sanded  trousers  or  sandy  hands,  and  I  owned  up  I 
couldn't  do  it,  but  I  got  the  five  dollars  for  my  spunk, 
and  the  fun  they  had. 

"  At  another  time  I  attempted  to  scull  a  boat,  with  a  line 
from  a  vessel  to  the  wharf,  at  Nantucket,  with  a  crooked 
oar,  and  I  couldn't  do  it ;  but  no  man  ever  has,  or  can 
scull  a  boat  with  a  crooked  oar. 

"  I  never  have  tried  to  make  a  Bo'son's  whistle  out  ol 
a  pig's  tail — I  don't  think  I  could  do  that." 

When  Captain  Waters  contracted  for  the  building  of 
the  "  Neptune,"  by  "  day's  work,"  he  told  the  builder  that 
his  Bo'son  was  a  carpenter,  and  arranged  for  him  to  be 
employed  on  the  ship.  Bill  commenced  when  the  blocks 
were  laid  for  the  keel,  and  continued  to  work  until  the 
ship  was  launched. 

Wh^n  the  midship-house  was  to  be  arranged  for  the 
crew,  the  cook's  galley,  store-room,  sail-room  and  Bo'son's 
room,  the  captain  left  the  arrangement  with  Bill — first, 
because  he  was  a  good  mechanic,  and  knew  what  room 


28  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

was  necessary   for  each  department,    and  second,  that 
he  might  have  just  such  a  room  for  himself  as  he  wished. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE    BO'SON  'S    DOG. 

BILL'S  dog,  "  old  Bose,"  was  as  much  of  a  character  as 
Bill  was  himself,  and  as  great  a  favorite  "  fore  and 
aft  "  the  ship.  He  was  a  noble  fellow,  black,  with  curly 
hair,  and  long  ears.  Bill  obtained  him  from  a  whaling 
ship  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  when  he  was  a  small  pup.  He 
never  knew  of  what  particular  breed  the  dog  was,  or  how 
mixed  his  pedigree  might  have  been.  Judging  from  his 
appearance  and  actions,  he  must  have  descended  from 
the  most  ancient  families  of  noble  dogs,  that  had  never 
disgraced  themselves  by  mingling  their  blood  with  any 
inferior  race.  He  may  have  had  some  relatives,  how 
ever  remote,  either  living  at,  or  that  emigrated  from,  New 
foundland,  and  also  some  from  the  interior  and  moun 
tainous  countries  of  Europe.  It  is  barely  possible  that 
he  had  some  slight  relationship  with  the  noble  dogs  of 
the  ocean,  as  he  took  very  naturally  to  the  water,  and  was 
as  much  at  home  in  it,  as  on  the  land. 

Before  be  became  the  property  of  Bill,  some  cruel  and 
greasy  whaleman  had  divested  the  dog  of  a  small  portion 
of  his  tail.  It  did  not  injure  the  appearance  of  Bose,  as 
he  had  parted  with  only  a  very  small  piece  of  his  tail, 
and  that  was  compensated  for  by  a  bunch  of  curly  hair. 

When  first  obtained  he  had  never  been  on  shore,  and 
Bill  liked  him  all  the  better  for  that,  because  he  was  a  true 
son  of  the  ocean.  Bill  had  taught  him  many  things,  and 
it  was  difficult  to  determine  which  felt  the  greatest  pleas 
ure,  Bill  in  teaching  or  the  dog  in  learning.  He  pos 
sessed  far  more  than  the  common  intelligence  of  dogs, 
or  he  could  not  have  learned  and  fully  understood,  all 
that  he  knew. 

Bose,  before  he  was  a  year  old,  would  set  on  the  ton- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  29 

gallant-forecastle  and  keep  as  good  a  look-out  as  any  of 
the  men,  and  he  could  be  depended  on  to  give  notice  of 
a  sail,  or  the  appearance  of  anything  unusual.  He  would 
first  scent,  and  then  see  land  from  the  deck,  before  any  of 
the  crew  could.  If  whales  or  porpoises  were  near  the 
ship  in  the  night,  Bose  was  sure  to  know  it,  and  give  the 
alarm. 

Whenever  it  was  calm,  Bose  had  his  sport  in  the  water, 
and  if  allowed,  would  spend  hours  overboard.  What 
ever  was  thrown  from  the  deck  he  would  bring  to  the 
side  of  the  ship,  and  assist  in  getting  a  rope  fast  to  it,  that 
it  might  be  hauled  on  board  again.  When  he  was  wanted, 
or  it  was  thought  that  he  had  been  long  enough  in  the  water, 
Bill  would  call  him  to  the  side  of  the  ship,  lower  a  rope 
with  a  "  bowlin  "  taken  in  the  end  of  it,  and  the  dog  would 
work  his  forefeet  through  the  bowlin,  then  take  hold  with 
his  mouth,  above  the  knot,  and  be  hauled  on  board. 

He  was  partly  taught,  and  in  part  seemed  to  possess 
the  knowledge  by  nature,  how  to  assist  a  man  in  the  wa 
ter  and  prevent  him  from  drowning.  In  some  instances 
he  would  take  hold  of  the  man's  clothing,  as  near  the 
throat  as  he  could,  and  keep  his  head  above  the  water, 
and  at  other  times  he  would  allow  a  man  to  put  his  arm 
over  his  back,  and  so  swim  to  the  ship  with  him. 

Sometimes,  for  amusement,  in  a  calm,  one  of  the  men 
would  fall  overboard  on  purpose,  and  the  cry  would  be 
raised,  "  A  man  overboard  !  A  man  overboard  !  "  The 
dog  very  soon  understood  it,  and  would  be  overboard 
after  the  man.  Once,  in  the  night,  a  man  did  fall  over 
board.  The  cry  was  raised,  and  the  dog  went  after  him. 
The  man  fell  from  aloft,  was  injured,  and  would  have 
drowned  before  the  boat  reached  him,  but  for  the  dog. 
He  would  go  aloft  as  high  as  the  "  futtock  shrouds,"  and 
down  again  to  the  deck  with  as  much  ease  and  confidence 
as  one  of  the  men.  The  Bo'son  used  to  say,  "  If  I  could 
only  teach  him  to  get  over  the  rim  of  the  top,  he  would 
be  handy  to  assist  in  reefing  topsails."  Nothing 
delighted  the  dog  more  than  to  "  give  a  pull "  on  any  rope 
with  the  sailors.  Bill  would  say  to  him,  "  Bose,  give  me 
a  pull  here  on  the  royal-halliards,  and  let  us  sway  it  up 


3o  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

taut  by  the  leeches."  The  dog  would  take  hold  of  the 
rope  with  his  mouth,  and  hang  his  whole  weight  on  it, 
until  he  heard  the  word  "  belay,"  which  he  understood  as 
well  as  did  any  of  the  men. 

Whenever  the  dog  saw  any  of  the  men  pulling  on  a 
rope,  he  was  sure  to  get  hold  somewhere  and  have  a 
pull  himself.  At  the  fall  of  a  "jig-tackle,"  a  rope  used 
at  the  "  windlass "  or  "  capstan,"  as  an  extra  hand  to 
"  hold  on  behind,"  the  dog  was  equal  to  a  good  man, 
and  better  than  two  lubbers.  He  always  took  hold  with 
a  will,  giving  all  his  weight  and  strength  to  the  work, 
and  never  eased  up,  or  let  go,  until  he  heard  the  order. 
There  was  but  little  duty  or  work  done  on  the  ship  that 
Bose  didn't  have  a  part  in. 

He  would  go  into  the  midship-house  where  the  men 
slept,  when  "  eight  bells "  were  called,  and  bark  until 
every  man  was  out  of  his  berth,  knowing  as  well  as  the 
men  did  that  the  watches  always  changed  at  every  "  eight 
bells,"  and  that  those  that  had  been  sleeping  must  take 
the  deck. 

The  dog  was  never  on  shore  except  at  some  of  the  unin 
habited  islands,  so  that  he  had  seldom  seen  one  of  his 
own  species,  having  always  lived  on  shipboard,  and  really 
belonged  as  much  to  the  ocean,  as  his  master  did.  He 
had  a  little  training  at  the  island  of  Socora  in  catching 
wild  hogs,  and  at  the  Falkland  Islands,  in  catching  young 
cattle  for  ship's  use;  and  performed  so  well  that  the 
Bo'son  said  :  "It  is  a  great  pity  that  the  education  of 
such  a  dog  should  have  been  so  neglected ;  as  who  can 
tell  what  he  might  have  been  with  a  finished  education  ?  " 

Bose,  like  his  master,  sometimes  attempted  impossi 
bilities.  Once,  in  a  light  wind,  he  was  sent  overboard 
after  a  small  sea-turtle,  which  he  seized  by  the  fore- 
flipper  and  held  until  a  boat  was  lowered,  and  secured 
the  turtle.  At  another  time  he  went  for  one  that  was 
larger,  which  he  fastened  to  in  the  same  way,  but  the 
turtle  headed  down,  and  being  the  heaviest  of  the  two, 
took  Bose  under  water  with  him.  The  dog  soon  re 
linquished  his  hold  and  came  to  the  surface,  and  after 
shaking  his  head  and  snorting  a  few  times,  he  looked 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  3I 

about  him  for  the  turtle  without  seeing  it,  and  then 
headed  for  the  ship.  "  Ha !  ha !  old  dog,"  said  Bill, 
"you  couldn't  fetch  him.  Nevermind,  old  fellow,  it  is 
just  as  well  for  you  to  know  that  there  are  some  things 
that  you  can't  do,  as  it  was  for  your  master.  Don't  be 
discouraged,  because  there  are  a  great  many  things  that 
you  can  do,  and  you  are  a  very  good  dog.  You  couldn't 
hold  a  turtle  on  top  of  the  water,  that  was  three  times 
your  own  weight,  any  easier  than  your  master  could  shin 
up  a  well  slushed  flag-staff,  or  scull  a  boat  with  a  crooked 
oar." 

Bill  was  in  the  habit  of  talking  to  the  dog  as  he  would 
to  a  human  being,  and  in  most  cases  the  dog  appeared  to 
understand  him,  and  would  look  humble  or  pleased,  as 
the  case  might  be.  His  character  and  habits  were 
known  "  fore  and  aft "  the  ship,  and  all  hands  were  his 
friends.  Sometimes  Bill  would  send  him  to  the  steward 
for  some  article  that  was  in  the  cabin,  and  the  dog  would 
give  no  peace  until  the  article  was  named,  when  he  would 
give  one  bark,  receive  the  article,  and  take  it  to  his  mas 
ter.  There  were  only  a  few  articles  in  the  cabin  that  the 
Bo'son  had  occasion  to  use  and  that  the  dog  could  carry, 
so  it  didn't  take  the  steward  long  to  run  over  the  cata 
logue,  and  as  he  fully  understood  the  dog,  he  generally 
gave  him  what  was  wanted. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

CAPTAIN    WATERS    SELLS    THE    SHIP    AND     BUYS    A    FARM. 

PAPTAIN  WATERS  offered  the  "  Neptune  "  for  sale, 
^  and  directed  the  steward,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
Bo'son,  to  make  an  inventory  of  articles  on  board  to  be 
sold  with  the  ship.  The  Bo'son  knew  what  there  was  on 
board,  and  where  everything  was  that  belonged  to  his 
own  department — also  about  the  ship  and  cabin  stores. 
Whatever  would  be  useful  on  the  farm  they  were  directed 
to  reserve,  pack  and  have  ready  for  shipping.  Captain 


3«  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Waters  had  been  so  long  accustomed  to  the  steward  and 
Bo'son  for  carrying  out  in  detail  his  directions,  that  his 
orders  in  this  instance,  as  usual,  were  only  given  in  gen 
eral  terms.  He  could  always  depend  on  their  judgment 
and  discretion  for  doing  properly  whatever  he  directed  to 
be  done. 

It  may  be  that  the  captain  had  become  a  little  indolent 
or  indifferent  about  small  matters  connected  with  his 
ship,  from  the  fact  that  others  had  long  looked  after  them 
for  him.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it  would  only  be  natural  for 
an  old  salt  that  liked  his  ease  and  comfort,  and  that  was 
in  possession  of  wealth  enough  to  gratify  every  wish,  and 
knew  that  he  could  always  have  his  own  way  when  he 
wanted  it,  to  let  others  have  their  way,  when  in  doing  so 
his  interest  would  be  well  looked  after  and  his  cares  les 
sened.  Certainly  no  man  ever  had  two  assistants  that 
were  more  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  or 
more  earnest  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  one  they  had 
long  served,  more  from  esteem  than  for  the  wages  they 
received. 

Captain  Waters  gave  his  directions  to  the  Bo'son  and 
steward,  and  then  left  the  ship  with  Mrs.  Waters  to  visit 
the  country  and  purchase  a  farm.  He  found  and  pur 
chased  one  near  the  Hudson  River,  a  short  distance  above 
Bemisc  Heights,  which  was  a  portion  of  the  old  Sara 
toga  battle  ground. 

On  tHe  farm  that  the  captain  purchased  there  was  a 
substantially  built  house,  recently  modernized  by  a  citizen 
of  Troy,  who  had  owned  the  farm  for  the  two  previous 
years,  and  spent  more  money  about  the  buildings  than  he 
had  realized  from  the  land,  and  found  out  that  to  be  a 
gentleman  farmer,  required  an  income  independent  of  the 
farm. 

There  were  all  the  necessary  out-buildings  on  the  farm, 
and  some  that  were  not  actually  necessary,  and  that  might 
be  considered  as  fancy  buildings ;  there  was  also  a  good 
farm  or  tenant  house-  The  buildings  were  all  in  general 
good  order,  but  a  change  of  owners  usually  causes  some 
changes  in  the  management  of  things,  and  most  likely  did 
on  and  about  the  farm  of  Captain  Waters. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  33 

Mrs.  Waters  was  highly  delighted  with  everything, 
as  the  one  great  desire  of  her  heart  had  been  a  farm,  and 
just  such  a  one  as  her  father  and  grandfather  had  when 
she  was  a  young  woman,  and  where  she  lived  until  she 
was  married.  She  thought  that  the  house,  with  a  good 
cleaning  and  painting  on  the  inside,  and  some  alterations 
in  the  kitchen,  that  Bill  could  make,  would  be  just  what 
she  wanted. 

The  captain  hired  a  farmer  and  his  wife  to  take 
charge  of  the  farm  and  occupy  the  farm  house,  and  also 
a  young  man  to  assist  them  on  the  farm,  and  left  all 
in  their  charge,  and  returned  to  New  York,  to  complete 
his  arrangements  there. 

The  ship  was  sold,  and  the  articles  on  the  inventory 
were  sold  with  the  ship,  and  sold  at  the  full  price  asked. 

The  captain  chartered  a  canal-boat  to  go  alongside  of 
the  ship  and  receive  what  was  to  be  taken  out,  and  also 
to  receive  such  other  freight  as  he  might  wish  to  put 
on  board,  and  land  it  all  at  Wilbur's  Basin,  near  the 
farm. 

Bill  had  carefully  packed,  boxed  and  marked  all  that 
was  on  the  ship,  and,  as  he  and  the  steward  had  been 
three  weeks  in  preparing,  all  was  in  perfect  order  and 
readiness  for  shipping  and  moving.  Neither  the  captain 
nor  his  lady  knew  what  articles  had  been  sold  with  the 
ship,  or  what  had  been  packed  to  go  on  the  farm ;  all 
that  had  been  left  to  the  Bo'son  and  steward. 

Captain  Waters  and  his  lady  having  for  some  years  con 
templated  such  a  change  as  they  were  about  making,  had 
in  different  parts  of  the  world  purchased  such  articles  as 
would  be  both  useful  and  ornamental  in  housekeeping, 
some  of  which  had  been  stored  until  wanted,  and  others 
were  on  the  ship  at  the  time  of  purchasing  the  farm  ;  so 
that  they  had  a  fair  outfit  to  begin  with.  Whatever  more 
was  required  to  furnish  the  house  was  purchased — also  car 
riages  and  provisions  for  the  family,  all  of  which  were 
shipped  on  the  boat. 

The  Captain  had  arranged  that  the  Bo'son,  steward  and 
Lizzie  should  go  on  the  boat,  with  the  things,  and  be 
landed  near  the  farm ;  and  that  he,  with  Mrs.  Waters, 


34 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


would  follow  them  in  a  few  days  by  steamboat,  railroad 
and  private  carriage  to  their  new  home. 

All  the  arrangements  having  been  completed,  they  had 
nothing  to  do  the  next  morning  but  to  deliver  the  ship  to 
the  new  owner,  and  leive  for  the  farm. 

On  the  evening  of  the  last  night  that  they  were  to  spend 
on  board,  the  Captain  again  called  them  into  the  cabin, 
where  they  had  all  so  often  assembled  before,  and  where 
they  were  never  to  meet  again.  Not  a  word  was  said  of 
the  past,  and  nothing  of  the  future  except  what  related  to 
business.  The  Captain  only  wished  to  learn  if  all  not  sold 
with  the  ship  had  been  taken  out,  and  if  everything  was 
shipped  on  the  boat.  Being  satisfied  that  all  was  right, 
he  gave  some  instructions  in  regard  to  what  he  wished 
them  to  do  when  they  reached  the  farm,  and  then  said 
"  good  night." 

In  the  morning  the  Bo'son  went  through  the  ship  with 
the  new  owner  and  new  master,  and  pointed  out  to  them 
every  article  on  the  inventory,  and  heard  them  say  that 
all  was  correct  and  satisfactory.  While  the  Bo'son  was 
performing  this,  his  last  duty  on  the  ship,  the  steward  and 
Lizzie  had  removed  a  few  light  articles  from  the  ship  to 
the  boat  lying  in  the  same  slip,  near  the  head  of  the  pier, 
and  had  left  the  ship  for  the  last  time. 

The  old  Bo'son,  considering  that  all  his  duties  were 
ended  on  board  of  the  "  Neptune,"  went  by  himself 
through  every  part  of  the  ship  below,  and  to  each  mast 
head,  up  one  side  of  the  rigging  and  down  the  other, 
then  out  on  the  fly-jib-boom ;  returning,  he  stood  a  few 
minutes  on  the  topgallant-forecastle,  looked  first  aloft,  and 
then  fore  and  aft  the  ship,  after  which  he  went  down  on 
the  main  deck,  walked  to  the  gangway,  where  both  captains 
and  Mrs.  Waters  were  standing,  took  off  his  hat,  bowed 
to  each  of  them,  whistled  to  his  dog,  and  left  the  ship 
without  speaking  a  single  word. 

When  the  Bo'son  was  gone  the  new  captain  said  :  "  I 
wish  we  had  bought  your  Bo'son  with  the  ship,  for  I  have 
met  with  no  such  man  before." 

Captain  Waters  replied  :  "  You  couldn't  have  him,  sir  ; 
because  he  has  sailed  with  me  for  twenty-seven  years,  and 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  35 

will  never  go  to  sea  with  any  other  man.  He  goes 
to  the  country  with  me  from  choice,  and  I  think  from 
what  he  considers  his  duty,  to  take  care  of  me,  though  he 
don't  say  so,  but  we  know  each  other  well.  He  believes 
and  says  '  That  without  him  I  ,can't  navigate  the  farm, 
and  that  I'll  get  ashore.'  Very  likely  he  is  more  than  half 
right.  Now,  sir,  the  ship  '  Neptune  '  is  yours,  and  may 
you  always  have  good  freights  and  fair  winds."  The  two 
captains  shook  hands,  and  the  new  one  waited  on  Mrs. 
Waters  over  the  side  of  the  ship,  and  thus  they  parted. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  BO'SON  AND  DOG  LEAVE  THE  SHIP  AND  SAVE  A  CHILD. 

WHEN  the  canal  boat  left  the  slip  in  tow  of  a  steamer, 
Bill  was  standing  aft  on  the  boat,  with  the  dog  sit 
ting  at  his  side.  He  laid  his  right  hand  on  the  head  of 
the  dog,  took  off  his  hat  with  his  left  hand,  and  in  silence 
bowed  to  the  ship.  He  continued  in  that  position,  with 
his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ship,  while  large  tears  were  following 
each  other  down  his  weather-beaten  cheeks,  until  the 
boat,  in  sheering  in  on  the  New  York  side,  was  about  to 
hide  the  ship  from  his  view,  when,  for  the  first  time,  he 
spoke,  and  said  : 

"  Good-by,  old  '  Neptune ; '  we  part,  never  to  meet 
again." 

The  old  Bo'son  was  no  longer  himself,  and  the  faithful 
dog  appeared  to  understand  it ;  for  when  Bill  sat  himself 
down  on  the  cabin  of  the  boat,  after  the  ship  was  out  of 
sight,  and  made  no  effort  to  hide  his  flowing  tears,  the  dog 
laid  his  head  on  the  knee  of  his  master,  and  looked  earn 
estly,  and  with  affection  in  his  face,  as  though  he  fully 
sympathized  with  him  in  all  his  sufferings. 

Bill  understood  the  dog,  and  fully  appreciating  his  sym 
pathy,  patted  him  on  the  head,  and  said  to  the  steward : 

"  That  is  the  last  of  the  '  Neptune.'  That  ship  grew  up 
under  my  eyes.  I  helped  lay  the  blocks  for  the  keel,  and 


36  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

then  helped  lay  her  keel ;  saw  every  stick  of  timber  of 
which  she  was  built,  every  plank  when  it  was  put  on,  every 
bolt  when  it  was  driven,  and  every  butt  when  it  was 
bolted.  There  is  no  bad  timber  nor  want  of  proper  fast 
ening  about  that  ship.  When  the  ship  was  finished  and 
launched,  all  the  rigging  was  fitted  and  put  in  its  place, 
under  my  care.  How  could  I  help  loving  her  ?  I  have 
sailed  seven  years  in  that  ship,  and  she  has  never  dam 
aged  a  bale  of  goods,  never  carried  away  a  spar,  and 
never  been  a  dollar  of  expense  to  the  underwriters.  She 
was  my  sweetheart,  and  has  been  to  me  a  wife  and  child. 
I  have  loved  her  better  than  I  have  ever  loved  anything 
else,  and  now  I  have  forever  lost  her,  and  am  a — what  do 
you  call  a  man,  steward,  when  his  wife  is  dead  ?  " 

"  A  widower,"  said  the  steward. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  continued  Bill.  "  I  am  a  widower,  and  shall 
never  again  be  married  to  such  a  ship,  for  they  can't  build 
another  like  her;  the  model  is  lost,  and  all  of  that  kind 
of  timber  and  fastening  was  used  up  when  the  '  Neptune  ' 
was  built.  I  have  looked  after  that  ship  as  a  mother 
would  after  her  child.  Her  rigging  has  never  chafed 
aloft,  nor  her  lanyards  in  the  'dead-eyes,'  and  when  her 
sides  have  been  bruised  by  the  fenders,  I  have  rubbed 
them  with  a  jack  and .  applied  a  plaster  of  paint.  That 
ship  was  born  to  me,  and  I  was  the  first  to  dress  her,  fitted 
her  first  stays,  put  them  on  and  laced  them  myself.  She 
never  wore  a  dress  that  I  did't  cut  and  fit,  and  now  I 
have  buried  her  without  any  service  being  read." 

Bill  sat  some  time  in  silence,  and  then  continued : 

"  It  was  hard  to  decide  between  the  ship  and  the  fam 
ily,  but  what  would  any  ship  be  to  me  without  the  family  ? 
I  gave  up  the  ship  to  remain  with  the  family,  and  be 
Bo'son  of  a  farm.  I  have  a  good  many  of  them — what  do 
you  call  things  people  keep  to  put  them  in  mind  of  what 
they  can't  think  of?  " 

"  Mementoes,"  suggested  the  steward. 

"  That  is  exactly  it,  mementoes,  and  I  have  some  that 
will  astonish  the  captain  and  all  hands  when  they  are 
unpacked,  and  that  will  keep  us  all  from  forgetting  the 
'  Neptune.' " 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  37 

Bill  was  startled  from  his  reflections  and  remarks  by  the 
loud  scream  of  a  woman,  and  the  single  bark  of  the  dog, 
that  had  left  his  side  and  was  in  the  water  in  an  instant. 
Bill  comprehended  at  once  that  somebody  was  over 
board,  and  he  followed  the  dog,  leaving  his  hat  and  shoes 
on  the  deck  of  the  boat.  It  was  a  little  girl,  six  years 
old,  daughter  of  the  captain  and  owner  of  the  boat,  who 
had  accidentally  fallen  overboard.  The  dog  saw  the  child 
fall,  followed  her  overboard  and  under  water,  and  when 
he  came  to  the  surface  he  had  the  child  with  him, 
holding  her  firmly  in  his  mouth  by  the  dress,  near  her 
throat,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  keep  the  child's  head 
above  the  water.  Bill  was  quickly  at  his  side ;  taking  the 
child  from  the  dog,  and  facing  the  boat  he  raised  it  in  his 
hands  high  above  the  water,  and  shouted :  "  All  right ! 
Little  one  not  hurt !  Gome  with  the  small  boat ;  Bose 
and  I  will  take  good  care  of  the  child  until  you  get  here. 
Don't  be  frightened !  " 

All  on  board  of  the  boat  shouted  in  turn  or  together, 
"  Is  the  child  dead  ?  Is  the  child  alive  ?  Is  the  child 
drowned  ?" 

Lizzie  told  the  almost  frantic  mother,  who  was  a  pic 
ture  of  despair,  "  that  no  child  could  ever  drown  where 
the  Bo 'son  and  dog  were,"  and  that  "her  little  darling 
would  be  safely  brought  back  to  her." 

The  engine  of  the  steamer  that  had  the  boat  in  tow  was 
immediately  stopped,  the  father  of  the  child  and  the 
steward  took  a  small  skiff  belonging  to  the  steamer,  and 
went  to  the  rescue  of  those  in  the  water. 

After  Bill  had  raised  the  child  up  and  shown  it  to  the 
anxious  friends  on  the  boat,  he  took  it  in  one  arm, 
and  putting  his  other  arm  over  the  back  of  the  dog, 
headed  up  stream  against  a  strong  ebb  tide,  and  was  as 
unconcerned  about  his  own  safety,  or  that  of  the  child, 
as  he  would  have  been  on  the  deck  of  a  ship,  or  under  a 
cherry  tree  on  a  farm. 

The  little  child  had  been  under  water  so  short  a  time 
before  old  Bose  brought  it  to  the  surface,  that  it  was 
more  frightened  than  injured,  and  soon  recovered  so  as 
to  reply  to  Bill,  who  assured  her  that  "  papa  is  coming  for 


38  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

us  all  in  a  small  boat,  and  will  soon  be  here."  "  Yes, 
yes,"  said  the  little  one,  "  I  can  see  him  coming  now." 

When  the  father  and  steward  reached  them,  and  the 
father  saw  his  little  daughter  safe  and  sensible  in  the  arms 
of  the  Bo'son,  and  the  dog  rendering  such  efficient  aid, 
his  heart  was  overjoyed,  and  he  said  to  Bill : 

"  You  and  your  dog  have  done  a  noble  deed,  but  I  am 
afraid  we  shall  upset  the  boat  in  getting  you  in." 

"  No  fear  of  that,  sir;  you  just  take  the  baby  first — she 
is  all  right,  as  you  see  by  her  little  talk — and  then  you  sit 
very  still  in  the  dory,  and  leave  the  rest  for  me  to  manage, 
and  you  will  see  what  an  old  salt  can  do." 

The  father  took  the  child,  and  was  glad  enough  to  have 
it  again,  and  then  Bill  told  the  dog  to  go  around  on  the 
other  side  of  the  boat,  which  he  did,  and  putting  his  fore 
feet  over  the  side  of  the  boat,  under  the  direction  of  his 
master,  hung  his  whole  weight  on  one  side  of  the  boat  as 
a  balance,  while  Bill  got  in  over  the  other  side,  without 
any  danger  of  upsetting  the  skiff.  Bill  then  told  the  dog 
to  let  go  and  follow  the  boat ;  he  obeyed,  and  they  were 
soon  all  safe  on  the  deck  of  the  large  boat. 

Bill  and  Bose  changed  characters,  for  they  were  no 
longer  a  Bo'son  and  a  dog,  but  were  pet  lions.  Neither 
of  them  thought  they  had  done  any  very  great  things, 
though  others  differed  from  them.  The  father  and  mother 
of  the  little  girl  were  loud  in  their  praise  of  both  Bill  and 
his  dog.  The  father  wanted  to  buy  the  dog,  and  offered 
one  hundred  dollars  for  him.  Bill  gave  a  little  history  of 
the  dog,  and  informed  the  father  that  the  dog  could  not 
be  bought.  He  then  offered  Bill  the  hundred  dollars  for 
saving  his  child,  and  that  was  respectfully  declined  with 
the  remark  :  "  Bose  and  I  never  take  money  for  saving 
life ;  we  always  try  to  do  our  duty,  and  all  we  want  is 
kind  treatment  from  those  we  assist." 

When  the  canal  was  reached,  and  the  horses  hitched  on, 
Bill  said : 

"  This  is  one  way  of  navigating — no  making  nor  taking  in 
sail,  no  compass  to  steer  by,  and  I  can't  see  the  use  of  a 
pilot.  It  can't  be  much  trouble  to  get  her  ashore  or  keep 
her  afloat ;  no  course  to  steer,  and  all  the  orders  given 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  39 

are :  '  Low  bridge,  lay  her  over  to  the  heel-path,  or  lay  her 
over  to  the  tow-path,'  and  neither  of  them  are  hard  to  do." 

On  arriving  at  the  junction  of  the  Erie  and  Champlain 
Canals,  at  the  first  lock,  the  bowman  of  the  boat  was 
injured  and  disabled.  Bill  volunteered  to  take  his  place, 
an  offer  that  was  readily  accepted,  and  he  astonished  all 
on  board  with  his  knowledge  of  locking,  when  he  informed 
them  that  he  had  never  before  seen  a  canal.  He  acquired 
his  knowledge  in  locking  ships  in  and  out  of  the  tide- 
docks  of  England  and  Europe.  After  towing  some  dis 
tance  on  the  sixteen-mile  level,  the  driver,  by  sheer  care 
lessness,  and  brutally  whipping  his  horses,  parted  the  tow- 
line  about  ten  fathoms  from  the  boat.  Bose  jumped  into 
the  canal,  seized  the  end  of  the  rope  in  his  mouth,  took 
it  ashore,  and  dragged  it  up  the  towpath  toward  the 
horses.  The  driver  dismounted,  and  when  taking  the 
line  from  the  dog  struck  him  a  heavy  blow  with  his  whip. 
Bose  fetched  one  gulp,  and  looked  to  the  Bo'son  for 
orders  what  to  do  in  the  case,  for  it  was  the  first  blow  the 
dog  had  ever  received. 

Bill  jumped  ashore,  stepping  quickly  toward  the  brute 
of  a  man  that  had  struck  his  noble  dog,  and  with  one 
blow  of  his  open  hand  laid  him  his  length  on  the  ground, 
and  seizing  the  whip,  applied  it  so  forcibly  on  his  person 
that  his  cries  were  heard  for  miles  along  the  waters  of 
the  "  raging  canal,"  and  he  hopped  about  like  a  toad  on 
a  hot  gridiron. 

The  captain  of  the  boat  was  soon  with  them,  and,  tak 
ing  the  whip  from  Bill,  was  about  to  repeat  the  flogging, 
when  the  Bo'son  said  : 

"  No,  no,  sir  ;  when  Bill  Thomas,  the  Bo'son  of  Captain 
Waters,  whips  a  man,  which  he  don't  often  do,  the  man 
can't  stand,  and  don't  want  any  more  whipping  that  day. 
I  would  have  served  the  rascal  right  if  I  had  let  the  dog 
have  a  chance  at  him,  for  the  dog  is  only  waiting  orders 
from  me  to  shake  him  limb  from  limb,  and  I  have  a  mind 
to  let  him  do  it." 

"  Boo !  hoo !  hoo !  boo !  "  blubbered  the  driver.  "  Please 
don't  let  your  dog  bite  me,  and  I'll  never  do  so  again. 
I  didn't  know  it  was  your  dog  when  I  struck  him." 


40  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  Well,  you  know  it  now,  and  had  better  look  sharp,  for 
the  dog  never  forgets  an  injury,  nor  deserts  a  friend  ;  do 
you,  Bose  ?  Are  you  satisfied,  old  dog,  with  the  flogging  I 
gave  this  fellow  ?  " 

The  dog  appeared  to  fully  comprehend  his  master,  and, 
putting  his  paws  on  Bill's  shoulders,  licked  his  face,  and 
then  laid  his  head  against  the  cheek  of  his  master. 

"  All  right,  old  dog,"  said  Bill ;  "  you  keep  your  eye  on 
that  chap,  and  if  he  ever  strikes  you  again,  shake  him." 

The  captain  of  the  boat  and  father  of  the  child  told 
Dick,  the  driver,  that  the  dog  had  saved  the  life  of  little 
Nellie  the  day  before,  by  jumping  into  the  river  and  div 
ing  after  the  child,  and  that  he  had  offered  one  hundred 
dollars  for  the  dog,  and  that  was  ninety-nine  and  a  half 
dollars  more  than  he  would  give  for  such  a  brute  of  a 
driver. 

Bill  and  the  dog  were  treated  with  distinguished  con 
sideration  for  the  rest  of  the  passage, — little  Nellie  and  her 
mother  feeding  the  dog  with  all  that  was  good  to  eat  on 
the  boat,  and  the  dog  watching  Nellie  to  prevent  her  from 
again  falling  overboard. 

Bill  said  to  the  mother :  "  You  needn't  fear,  marm,  that 
the  child  will  fall  over  again  while  Bose  is  on  board,  for 
you  see  he  never  leaves  her  alone,  and  would  have  her  by 
the  clothes,  before  she  could  fall  over  the  side  of  the  boat." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   BO'SON   UNDERTAKES    TO   MILK,  AND   SALT   SHEEP. 

THE    boat  landed  all  safely  at   the  Basin,  and  while 
the  freight  was  being  put  ashore,  the  driver  kept 
out  of  sight,  fearing  the  Bo'son  or  his  dog  might  have 
another  account   to  settle  with  him.     He  told  another 
driver  "  that  the  old  Bo'son  was  extra  heavy  in    using 
a  whip,  and  would  make  a  good  driver  with  dull  teams." 
The  fanner  met  them  at  the  Basin,  and  with  him  were 
many  of  the  neighbors,  with  their  wagons,  to    assist  in 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  41 

taking  the  things  to  the  farm.  All  were  pleased  with  the 
Bo'son  and  his  dog,  for  Bose  always  recognized  as  his 
own,  all  the  friends  of  his  master,  and  never  failed  to 
respect  them. 

When  the  things  were  all  landed,  and  the  "Rotary" 
was  about  to  continue  her  way  up  the  canal,  Captain 
Williams,  his  wife  and  the  little  girl  Nellie,  stepped  ashore, 
and  called  to  Bill,  as  they  wished  to  again  thank  him 
and  his  dog  for  saving  the  child.  Captain  Williams 
wished  to  learn  where  the  farm  was,  as  he  should  visit 
it  on  his  next  trip  up.  Bill  received  the  additional  thanks, 
and  the  dog  the  additional  caresses,  with  their  usual 
modesty,  and  Bill  wished  them  a  safe  passage,  and  that 
the  flogging  he  had  given  the  driver  might  do  him  good, 
and  make  a  better  man  of  him. 

The  saving  of  the  child  by  the  Bo'son  and  his  dog, 
becoming  known,  was  greatly  magnified  each  time  it  was 
told-  by  one  to  another  of  the  plain  farmers,  until  it  was 
reported  that  they  had  saved  a  whole  crew  of  shipwrecked 
men,  women  and  children,  on  a  very  stormy  night,  on 
some  foreign  coast,  whose  name  none  of  them  could 
remember. 

All  the  neighbors  that  assisted  in  taking  the  things  from 
the  boat  to  the  farm  were  astonished  at  the  quantity,  and 
the  number  of  boxes,  large  and  small,  and  wondered 
what  they  could  all  contain.  Such  articles  of  costly 
furniture,  and  much  of  it  of  foreign  make,  they  had 
never  seen  before.  Some  of  them  said  "  the  captain  must 
have  an  amazing  sight  of  money  to  buy  so  many  things." 

Bill  made  a  friend  of  the  farmer,  and  induced  him  to 
stow  away  in  one  of  the  barns,  and  cover  with  hay, 
a  number  of  boxes  that  he  didn't  wish  the  captain  to  see 
until  the  time  came  to  unpack  them. 

After  all  was  landed  at  the  farm,  Bill  examined  every 
building  and  everything  with  great  care,  and  then  said  to 
the  steward  : 

"Whatever  isn't  right  on  board  of  this  ship,  can  be 
made  right  in  time  ;  but  there  is  plenty  to  do,  and  for  me 
a  great  deal  to  learn,  and  you  see  if  I  don't  learn  it  be 
fore  the  voyage  ends,  because  my  heart  is  in  it." 


42  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Bill  took  possession  of  a  story-and-a-half  building, 
twelve  by  twenty  feet  in  size,  standing  on  a  line,  and 
about  forty  feet  from  the  mansion,  which  he  called  the 
"Midship-house,"  and  in  it  he  placed  his  personal  effects, 
and  slung  his  hammock.  He  told  the  steward  that  "  the 
Bo'son's  house  could  be  fixed  up  when  they  had  more 
time,  and  that  all  hands  must  work  on  the  main  cabin,  and 
have  it  ready  for  the  captain  and  his  lady  when  they  came 
on  board." 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  arrived  on  a  Saturday  after 
noon,  five  days  after  the  others  had  reached  the  farm,  and 
found  things  comfortably  arranged  for  them  at  their  new 
home,  for  all  had  worked  faithfully. 

The  captain,  after  surveying  things,  said  :  "  How  do 
you  like  farming,  Bo'son  ? " 

"  I  haven't  tried  my  hand  at  it  yet,  sir.  I  have  been 
working  all  the  time  in  the  house ;  but  I  think  I  shall  like 
it,  when  I  learn  and  get  used  to  it,"  was  the  Bo'son's 
reply. 

The  next  morning,  the  farmer  and  his  assistant  being 
engaged  at  the  back  of  the  farm,  in  consequence  of  some 
cattle  having  broken  into  one  of  the  fields,  there  was  no 
one  to  milk,  and  the  steward  said  :  "  Bo'son,  if  you  will 
milk  one  of  the  cows,  so  I  can  have  some  milk,  I  will 
make  you  a  sea-hash  for  your  breakfast." 

"  I'll  do  it,  "replied  Bill ;  "  show  me  a  bucket  that  will 
hold  the  juice  of  one  cow,  and  I  will  show  you  how  a 
Bo'son  can  milk." 

Bill  had  watched  the  men  when  they  were  milking,  and 
thought  it  very  easy  to  do.  It  being  Sunday,  Bill  had  shaved 
and  dressed  with  white  trousers  and  a  light  blue  shirt, 
which,  with  his  tarpaulin  hat,  shoes  and  stockings,  consti 
tuted  his  whole  dress.  Bill  unbuttoned  his  shirt-sleeves, 
and  rolled  them  up  above  his  elbows,  showing  the  God 
dess  of  Liberty  supporting  a  staff,  from  which  floated  the 
American  flag,  with  a  cluster  of  stars  above  it  on  one 
arm,  and  on  the  other  a  whale  with  a  boat  fast  to  it,  and 
a  ship  in  the  distance — all  of  which  had  been  imprinted 
with  India  ink  in  a  masterly  way.  Bill  took  his  pail  and 
stool,  and  with  the  expression  "  Now  for  it,"  seated  him- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  43 

self  at  the  side  of  the  cow  and  seized  her  teats,  as  he 
would  have  done  a  half-frozen  jib-sheet  to  get  it  aft  in  a 
heavy  blow.  In  an  instant,  Bill,  his  milking-pail  and 
stool  were  ten  feet  behind  the  cow,  and  Bill  was  singing 
out  "  A  man  overboard  !  a  man  overboard !  haul  aback 
the  main-yard!  " 

Bill  picked  himself  up,  and  walked  to  where  the  cap 
tain  was  standing,  and  said: 

"  Capt'n  Waters,  will  you  please  allow  me  to  swear  a 
little,  sir?  " 

"  No,  no,  Bo'son,  it  can't  be  done  on  the  farm,  accord 
ing  to  agreement." 

"Very  well,  sir;  then  if  you  want  that  cow,  or  any 
other  cow  on  board  of  this  ship  pumped  out,  you  must 
set  a  hand  at  it  that  understands  rigging  and  working 
coAv-pumps  better  than  the  Bo'son  does,  or  it  can't  be 
done." 

"  Never  mind,  Bo'son,"  said  the  Captain,  "you  go  and 
put  on  some  clean  clothes,  and  be  ready  for  breakfast;  I 
told  you  the  duty  was  different  on  a  farm,  and  that  you 
would  have  to  learn  some  things." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir;  I  will  change  my  clothes,  and  you  see 
if  I  don't  learn  something  yet,"  was  Bill's  reply. 

Notwithstanding  Bill's  "  unsuccessful  milking  voyage," 
as  he  styled  it,  the  steward  made  him  a  sea-hash,  which 
he  relished  so  well  that  he  was  fully  restored  to  cheerfulness. 

After  breakfast  the  Captain  said:  "Bill,  I  wish  you  to 
get  some  salt,  and  go  over  in  the  next  field  and  salt  the 
sheep." 

"  But  they  are  not  butchered  yet,  sir,"  was  Bill's  reply. 

"  I  know  that,  Bo'son;  but  I  want  you  to  give  it  to  them 
to  eat." 

"  Will  sheep  eat  salt,  sir?  " 

"  Yes,  Bo'son;  all  the  stock  in  this  fresh  water  country 
must  have  salt  once  a  week,  or  they  do  not  thrive.  You 
will  find  some  pieces  of  board  inside  the  fence;  strew  the 
salt  on  the  boards,  and  the  sheep  will  lick  it  off.  You 
needn't  be  afraid  of  them;  they  will  not  hurt  you." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir;  I'll  do  it;  I  don't  think  I  have  been  all 
my  life  at  sea,  to  be  afraid  of  sheep." 


44 


CAPTAIN  WATEKS 


•  Bill  went  as  directed,  and  while  stooping  over  to  place 
the  salt  on  a  board,  an  old  buck  made  a  running  butt  at 
him,  taking  him  square  in  the  stern,  and  landing  him  on 
his  hands  and  knees,  fully  ten  feet  from  where  he  had  been 
standing.  Before  he  could  gather  himself  up,  the  old 
ram  was  at  him  again,  Bill  making  a  motion  like  the  leap 
of  a  frog,  and  shooting  ahead  some  six  feet,  landing  again 
on  his  hands  and  knees,  with  his  face  turned  so  as  to  look 
over  his  shoulder,  and  a  shout  of  "Avast  there!"  The 
old  ram  went  for  him  again,  extra  heavy,  and  Bill  made 
another  leap  of  about  eight  feet,  landing  in  the  same  way, 
and  with  a  shout  that  sounded  very  much  like  improper 
language.  The  old  buck  was  at  him  again  and  again, 
never  giving  Bill  time  to  get  on  his  feet,  and  each  time  the 
Bo 'son  landed  he  used  an  expression. 

Bill  afterwards  always  said  :  "  If  I  did  use'any  improper 
words,  they  were  knocked  out  of  me  end-ways  by  the  ram." 

The  Captain  saw  the  whole  affair  from  the  beginning, 
and  as  the  readiest  way  of  giving  assistance,  sent  the  dog 
to  his  aid. 

Bose  caught  a  glimpse  of  Bill  in  his  second  leap,  and 
was  off  over  fields  and  fences,  and  just  as  the  ram  backed 
for  the  seventh  butt,  the  dog  took  him  by  the  throat, 
rolled  him  over  and  held  him  as  in  a  vice.  Bill  gathered 
himself  up,  and  went  over  the  fence  quicker,  as  he  said, 
"  Than  I  ever  went  over  the  rim  of  the  '  Neptune's '  top, 
to  overhaul  the  halliards  and  ride  the  topsail-yard  down 
for  reefing,  in  a  squall." 

The  dog,  seeing  Bill  on  the  other  side  of  the  fence,  gave 
the  old  buck  one  severe  shake,  and  followed  his  master, 
thinking  possibly  there  might  be  more  trouble,  and  his  as 
sistance  again  needed. 

Bill  walked  toward  the  house  with  a  motion  not  exactly 
natural  to  him,  and  going  up  to  the  Captain,  who  had  a 
peculiar  smile  on  his  face,  said  : 

"  Capt'n  Waters,  will  you  just  please  let  me  up  a  little 
on  my  promise  about  swearing,  and  let  me  ease  my  mind 
on  that  ram,  or  I  shall  explode  ?  " 

"  Bill,  it  can't  be  done,  you  must  abide  by  the  articles  ;  " 
was  the  Captain's  reply. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  45 

"Very  well,  sir,  you  have  the  agreement,  and  if  you 
don't  let  me  up  I  must  keep  it  ;  but  tell  me,  sir,  if  that  is 
what  you  call  a  battering  ram  in  this  part  of  the  world  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  that  he  might  be  called  one  of  that 
kind,  Bill." 

"  Do  you  believe,  Capt'n,  that  there  is  any  hereafter 
for  rams  ?  " 

"What  do  you  mean,  Bo'son  ?  " 

"  I  mean,  sir,  another  world,  where  rams  go  after  they 
have  done  butting  in  this  world." 

"  No,  Bo'son ;  certainly  not,  there  is  no  hereafter  for 
rams." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that,  sir,  because  if  there  was,  I  would 
wish  the  whole  family  of  rams  in  a  place  so  hot  that  they 
would  all  be  roasted  brown,  in  less  than  ten  minutes." 

"  Bo'son,  you  shouldn't  be  hard  on  them  ;  it  is  natural 
for  them  to  butt,  and  they  don't  know  any  better." 

"  That  is  all  very  well,  Capt'n,  for  you  to  think  so,  but 
if  you  had  been  in  my  place  over  in  the  field  there,  you 
might  not  be  so  great  an  admirer  of  nature  in  rams,  and 
especially  in  their  heads.  I'll  tell  you,  sir,  if  I  had  known 
how  duty  was  carried  on  here,  and  how  dangerous  the 
navigation  is,  I  would  have  been  sheathed  and  coppered 
before  I  left  port,  and  fully  insured  against  partial  and 
general  loss.  I  will  learn  all  about  this  coast  before  I 
leave  it,  or  own  I  am  not  fit  for  a  Bo'son,  and  I  will  get 
square  with  that  ram  before  the  voyage  ends.  I  know 
him  by  his  black  legs,  and  will  settle  with  him  one  of  these 
days." 

"  Bill,  you  will  not  injure  anything  on  the  farm  that 
would  be  a  loss  to  me  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not,  sir  ;  but  you  must  remember,  only  for 
the  dog  you  might  have  lost  you  Bo'son  at  the  beginning 
of  the  voyage,  and  I  will  do  no  more  harm  to  the  ram, 
than  the  ram  has  done  to  me ;  but  I  shall  do  it  in  a  differ 
ent  way,  for  he  can  out-butt  me,  anyhow.  I  shall  always 
remember  that  ram,  and  after  a  little,  that  ram  will  al 
ways  remember  me." 

"  You  shouldn't  mind  trifles,  Bo'son,"  said  the  Captain; 
"  I  admit  that  you  have  not  had  much  luck  in  milking,  or 


46  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

in  salting  the  sheep  this  morning,  but  you  will  do  better 
next  time." 

"  I  never  mind  trifles,  sir,  and  as  for  milking,  I  can  do 
that  if  you  will  let  me  do  it  in  a  seamanlike  manner." 

"  Well,  Bo'son,  tell  me  how  you  would  milk  in  a  sea- 
manlike  way?" 

"Yes,  sir;  I'll  tell  you,  Captain:  in  the  first  place,  I 
would  moor  the  old  cow  head  and  stern  in  the  stable,  put 
a  pair  of  slings  under  her  and  lash  her  up  to  the  beams 
overhead,  put  some  ringbolts  in  the  floor,  a  strap  over  her 
shoulders,  and  another  over  her  hips,  and  lash  her  down; 
put  ranging  guys  on  her  hind  legs,  and  if  necessary  set 
them  up  with  a  gun-tackle  purchase, — and  then,  sir,  if  she 
had  any  milk  on  board  I  would  hoist  it  out,  and  have  no 
trouble  or  kicking  about  it." 

"  I  think  if  you  had  no  trouble  to  discharge  a  cargo  of 
milk  from  the  cow,  you  would  have  considerable  trouble 
in  getting  ready  to  discharge,"  was  the  Captain's  reply. 

That  is  so;  but  I  only  wanted  to  convince  you  that 
the  Bo'son  could  manage  to  milk  if  it  was  necessary." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,  Bo'son,  for  you  generally 
manage  to  do  things  when  you  set  about  them.  Now, 
Bill,  go  and  change  your  clothes  again  and  be  ready  for 
meeting." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  was  Bill's  response. 

Bill  had  met  with  two  mishaps  that  morning,  and  yet 
his  good  nature  was  not  as  much  disturbed  as  his  language 
would  indicate.  He  could  enjoy  a  joke,  or  a  piece  of  fun, 
even  at  his  own  expense. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  BO'SON  DRESSES    AND  GOES  TO  FRIENDS*  MEETING. 

BILL  was  pleased   at   the   idea  of  going  to  Friends 
Meeting.     He  had  seen  Quakers  in  England,  Balti 
more,  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  when  they  had  been  on 
board  of  the  ship  to  receive  or  engage  freight.    He  liked 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  47 

them,  and  was  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  attend  one  of 
their  meetings.  Captain  Waters  explained  to  the  Bo'son 
that  there  were  no  "  paid  preachers  "  among  them,  and 
that  they  sometimes  had  silent  meetings,  in  which  all  in 
silence  did  their  own  preaching  and  their  own  praying. 

"  I  have  seen  enough  of  them,"  said  Bill,  "  to  know 
that  I  shall  like  them.  There  were  some  of  them  that 
helped  take  the  things  from  the  boat  to  the  farm,  and 
when  the  steward  offered  to  pay  them,  they  said  :  '  No, 
friend  steward,  we  never  receive  pay  for  neighborly  acts; 
thou  canst  tell  friend  Waters  that  he  is  very  welcome  to 
the  little  assistance  we  have  rendered  him.'  " 

As  Bill  was  in  a  new  place,  and  among  a  new  people, 
he  determined  to  bend  his  best  suit  of  sails.  He  had  his 
third  suit  of  clothes  on  that  morning,  as  the  first  suit  was 
damaged  on  the  milking  voyage;  the  second  on  his  salt 
voyage,  by  colliding  with  a  battering  ram,  and  the  third 
suit  was  put  on  afterwards. 

Bill  was  well  supplied  with  clothing,  and  said  to  the 
steward  :  "  I  can  stand  a  kicking  from  every  cow,  and  a 
butting  from  every  ram  on  board,  and  have  a  clean  suit 
for  them  all,  and  not  break  out  the  ground-tier  of  my 
clothes-bag  or  chest." 

Bill  had  always  done  his  own  washing  at  sea  and  in 
port,  because  he  believed  he  could  do  it  better  than  any 
woman,  and  have  as  many  clean  suits  as  he  wished  to 
wear,  and  give  no  extra  trouble.  Lizzie  did  his  ironing 
by  special  contract,  understood  only  by  them.  It  was  one 
of  Bill's  peculiar  traits  of  character  to  be  always  neat  and 
clean  in  his  personal  appearance.  He  was  what  might  be 
called  a  fancy  sailor,  and  all  his  clothes  were  cut  and 
made  in  sailor  style,  of  which  he  was  as  close  a  follower 
as  any  young  dandy  could  be  of  the  fashions  of  the  day. 

On  the  present  occasion  he  opened  a  small  chest  com 
posed  of  camphor-wood,  one  of  his  own  making,  and  in 
whicli  he  kept  his  best  clothing.  From  the  many  suits  he 
selected  one  that  he  thought  was  most  suitable,  and  com 
menced  dressing  himself  in  white  linen  duck  trousers, 
with  the  legs  wide  at  the  bottom  ;  a  very  light  blue  shirt, 
made  with  a  wide  collar  to  turn  over  on  the  shoulders, 


4g  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

the  edge  of  the  collar  bound  with  white,  and  a  small  white 
star  on  each  corner  of  it ;  a  dark  necktie,  in  a  fancy  sailor 
knot ;  a  navy  blue  broadcloth  jacket,  with  pearl  buttons 
on  both  sides,  set  close  to  each  other,  and  six  smaller 
pearl  buttons  on  each  sleeve,  near  the  hand  ;  brown  stock 
ings,  and  low  long  quartered  shoes;  a  hat  of  his  own 
make,  that  had  cost  him  many  days  labor  at  sea,  to  plait 
from  the  unbleached  leaf  of  a  foreign  tree,  and  then  to 
make  up  with  a  medium  brim  and  low  crown,  having  on 
it  a  wide  black  band,  tied  with  long  ends,  hanging  at  the 
side,  and  "  Neptune  "  in  gilt  letters  on  the  front  of  the 
band.  In  this  suit,  with  a"  Bo'son's  silver  call,"  suspended 
by  a  fancy  lanyard  from  his  neck,  and  placed  in  the  fob 
of  his  trousers,  so  that  about  one-third  of  it  could  be  seen  ; 
and  an  India  silk  pocket  handkerchief  in  the  outside 
breast  pocket  of  his  jacket,  the  Bo'son  was  dressed  for 
any  great  occasion,  or  any  extra  company.  Suspenders, 
vest  and  gloves  were  never  included  in  a  full  dress  of  the 
Bo'son.  He  always  regarded  them  as  useless,  and  belong 
ing  more  to  the  land  than  the  sea  service. 

When  thus  dressed,  Bill  Thomas  was  in  appearance 
what  he  was  in  reality,  a  sailor  in  dress,  as  well  as  in  char 
acter  and  action. 

He  wore  his  hat  a  little  on  the  back  of  his  head,  show 
ing  the  dark  curly  hair  over  his  forehead  and  temples,  and 
was  the  picture  of  a  perfect  and  happy  sailor. 

Bill  watched  with  great  interest  the  young  man,  Josh, 
while  he  was  harnessing  the  horses  and  placing  them  be 
fore  the  Captain's  new  family  carriage,  but  kept  himself 
at  a  very  respectful  distance,  saying  : 

"I  have  had  a  little  misunderstanding  this  morning 
with  a  cow,  and  another  with  a  ram,  and  have  not  now  a 
suit  of  sails  bent,  that  are  suitable  for  going  into  action ; 
and  not  knowing  the  weight  of  horse  metal,  will  keep  out 
of  their  range  until  I  learn  their  mode  of  fighting." 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  occupied  the  back  seat  of  the 
carriage,  Josh  and  Bill  the  front  seat,  Josh  driving,  and  as 
they  were  passing  the  field  where  the  sheep  were,  Bill 
shook  his  finger  at  the  ram  with  black  legs,  and  winked 
with  one  eye  at  the  driver. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  49. 

The  old  Saratoga  Friends  Meeting-house,  built  in  the 
year  1770,  was  a  quaint  old  building,  without  paint  on 
either  the  inside  or  outside  of  it.  It  had  been  standing 
there  so  long,  and  in  it  so  many  marriages  had  taken 
place,  that  there  were  many  sweet  associations  connected 
with  that  old  meeting-house. 

It  stood  on  elevated  ground,  on  the  west  side  of  a  road 
running  north  and  south,  towards  the  Quaker  Springs,  and 
about  two  miles  south  of  that  small  village.  Standing  in 
front  of  the  meeting-house,  and  looking  towards  the  east, 
the  high  land  of  Washington  County,  including  Willard's 
mountain  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Hudson  River,  was 
in  full  view,  and  a  more  lovely  picture  in  nature  it  would 
be  difficult  to  find,  in  any  part  of  the  world,  during  the 
summer  and  autumn  seasons.  Rude  in  its  appearance, 
and  without  form  or  comeliness  in  its  shape,  the  old  meet 
ing-house  was  surrounded  with  such  beautiful  scenery,  and 
hallowed  by  so  many  associations,  that  it  will  be  remem 
bered  with  interest,  until  the  last  that  worshipped  in  it 
have  passed  from  the  earth. 

In  it  the  most  gifted  and  favored  of  their  public  speak 
ers  have  proclaimed  the  pure  but  simple  doctrines  of 
Quakerism  and  truth  ;  and  from  it  many  a  sincere,  silent 
and  vocal  prayer  has  ascended  to  the  most  High. 

It  was  a  beautiful  summer  day,  and  early  for  meeting, 
when  the  captain  and  his  family  arrived,  and  many  of 
the  Friends,  old  and  young,  were  standing  around,  outside 
of  the  house.  They  all  extended  a  cordial  greeting  and 
friendly  welcome  to  the  new  neighbors,  though  some 
appeared  a  little  surprised  at  the  Bo'son  and  his  very 
peculiar  dress ;  yet  many  of  the  Friends,  both  old  and 
young,  shook  him  warmly  by  the  hand,  and  a  little  sur 
prised  the  Bo'son  to  find  that  they  should  do  so,  without 
any  previous  acquaintance.  He  found  afterward  that  it 
was  their  friendly  way,  and  usual  form.  Some  of  the 
elder  and  most  substantial  members  of  the  Society  said 
to  the  captain : 

"  We  are  glad  to  see  thee  and  thy  family  come  to  sit 
and  worship  with  us,  especially  as  thou  art  not  a  member 
cf  our  society." 

3 


5° 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


"  I  am  not  a  member  of  any  religious  society,  but  have 
at  times  attended  all  the  different  ones,  and  trust  I  am  a 
Christian.  I  like  your  simple  form,  and  shall  esteem  it  a 
privilege  to  worship  with  you,"  was  the  captain's  reply. 

Welcome  Goodwin,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  active 
members  of  the  society,  having  long  been  one  of  their 
approved  ministers,  took  it  upon  himself  to  reply  to  Jhe 
captain,  and  said : 

"  Friend  Waters,  thou  hast  come  with  thy  family  to  re 
side  near  us.  The  doors  of  our  meeting  and  dwelling 
houses  will  ever  be  open  to  receive  thee  and  thy  family, 
and  in  them  you  will  be  welcome  at  all  times.  Our  form 
of  worship  is,  as  thou  sayest,  simple,  but  we  trust  accept 
able  to  our  Heavenly  Father ;  the  seats  of  our  meeting 
house  are  all  free,  and  now  let  us  go  in." 

The  Bo'son  saw  that  many  of  the  Friends  sat  with  their 
hats  on,  and  concluded  that  it  was  one  of  their  forms  of 
worship.  It  was  not  a  silent  meeting,  for  after  they  had 
been  sitting  some  time  in  silence,  a  woman  Friend  arose, 
and  taking  off  her  bonnet  said,  in  a  low,  clear  and  sweet 
voice  : 

"There  is  a  Divine  power,  and  a  Divine  spirit  in,  and 
acting  on,  the  hearts  of  us  all,  and  if  we  are  only  willing 
to  be  led  and  guided  by  it,  we  shall  be  preserved  from 
the  evils  of  the  world,  fitted  for  every  duty  in  life,  and 
prepared  for  the  great  change  at  the  close  of  life  ;  which 
we  shall  leave  in  the  full  assurance  of  a  blessed  immor 
tality,  in  a  world  beyond  the  grave.  Our  pathway  through 
life  is  beset  with  many  dangers,  many  temptations ;  and  we 
are  often  led  from  the  right,  and  from  the  truth,  by  yield 
ing  to  our  own  natural  desires  and  inclinations,  instead 
of  being  governed  and  directed  by  the  Divine  Spirit 
within  us.  We  sometimes  become  careless  of  our  words 
and  our  actions,  and  say  or  do  things  that  injure  others. 
I  desire,  my  dear  friends,  and  especially  you  who  are  in 
the  morning  of  life,  to  call  your  earnest  attention  to  the 
light  and  power  of  God  in  your  own  hearts,  and  to  entreat 
you  to  listen  to  its  teachings  and  its  wooing,  that  it  may 
be  well  with  you  in  this  world,  and  well  with  you  in  the 
world  to  come.  Hold  no  unkind  feelings,  one  towards 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  5! 

another  ;  injure  no  one  by  word  or  act ;  do  all  the  good 
you  can,  and  guard  yourselves  at  all  times  against  doing 
evil;  love  one  another  in  gospel  truth,  and  let  peace, 
good  will  and  earnest  friendship  ever  abide  with  you. 
All  these  blessings  will  be  our  rich  inheritance  while  here 
on  earth,  if  we  are  are  only  willing  to  be  led  and  guided 
by  the  Divine  Spirit." 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  Welcome  Goodwin  said  to 
the  Bo'son : 

"William,  I  should  like  much  to  see  thee  where  we  can 
talk  together." 

"  My  name  is  Bill,  if  you  please,  sir,  and  I  should  be 
glad  to  talk  with  you  at  any  time,  when  convenient  to 
you,"  was  the  Bo'son's  reply. 

"  Well,  I  will  call  thee  Bo'son  now,  and  we  will  talk  about 
thy  name  some  other  time,  as  I  am  going  to  call  on  friend 
Waters  ;  he  has  invited  me  to  do  so.  Farewell,  William," 
said  friend  Goodwin,  shaking  Bill  by  the  hand. 

"  Good-by,  Mr.  Goodwin ;  please  remember  that  my 
name  is  Bill." 

On  the  way  from  the  meeting  to  the  farm,  the  captain 
asked  the  Bo'son  what  he  thought  of  Friends  as  a  society, 
and  of  their  meeting. 

"  I  have  never  before,"  said  Bill,  "been  at  one  of  their 
meetings,  and  for  the  first  time  have  to-day  heard  a 
woman  preach.  I  liked  what  she  said,  because  I  could 
understand  it,  and  her  words  went  to  the  right  place  in 
my  heart.  If  what  the  lady  said  is  true,  and  I  fully  be 
lieve  it  is,  then  there  are  a  great  many  sailors'  who  are 
Christians,  and  don't  really  know  it  themselves,  and  never 
have  any  credit  from  the  world  for  being  such." 

"  Do  you  think,  Bo'son,  that  you  are  a  Christian  ?  " 

"  No,  Capt'n,  not  exactly,  but  Bose  and  I  are  both  of 
us  trying  to  do  all  the  good  we  can,  and  as  little  harm  as 
possible, — and  here  we  are  at  home." 


52  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

CHAPTER  XI. 

SHIP  "NEPTUNE,"  CAPTAIN  WATERS,  THE  BO'SON   AND 
SOME  TAR. 

WHEN  the  ship  "  Neptune  "  was  built,  Captain  Waters 
being  sole  owner,  and  intending  her  as  a  home  on 
the  ocean  for  himself  and  family,  had  her  cabin  ar 
ranged  for  the  greatest  possible  comfort  and  convenience. 
It  was  a  deck  cabin,  and  divided  into  three  compartments, 
known  as  the  forward,  middle  and  after  cabins.  In  the 
forward  cabin,  on  each  side,  were  state-rooms  for  the 
officers,  the  steward's  room,  store-room  and  pantry ;  also 
spare  state-rooms  for  friends  that  might  be  passengers,  or 
spend  a  night  on  board.  In  the  middle  of  this  cabin, 
and  extending  nearly  the  whole  length  of  it,  was  the 
dining  table,  with  room  to  seat  twenty-two  persons. 
There  were  seats  at  the  sides  of  the  table,  secured  to  the 
floor,  to  keep  them  in  position  in  a  sea-way.  They  were 
cushioned,  covered  with  hair-cloth,  and  had  shifting 
backs.  The  middle  cabin  was  fitted  up  as  a  parlor,  or 
drawing-room.  It  extended  from  side  to  side  of  the  ship, 
with  large  windows  on  each  side,  composed  of  heavy 
thick  glass,  capable  of  resisting  much  force  from  the 
waves,  and  shutters  on  the  outside,  that  could  be  closed 
in  a  gale  of  wind.  The  furniture,  curtains,  mirrors,  and 
every  article  in  it,  were  of  the  richest  and  most  costly 
kind,  and  all  arranged  in  good  taste.  There  were  two 
state-roorrts  in  the  forward  cabin,  that  opened  into  this 
parlor  cabin.  One  was  occupied  by  Lizzie,  the  other 
kept  as  a  spare  room,  and  often  used  by  special  friends,  or 
some  one  of  the  grandchildren  that  were  invited  to  make 
a  short  voyage  in  the  ship.  The  after  cabin  was  the 
sleeping  apartment,  bath-room,  and  the  captain's  private 
office  ;  all  arranged  with  great  taste,  and  every  convenience 
that  could  be  suggested  or  desired.  All  three  of  the 
cabins  had  large  skylights,  in  addition  to  the  air-ports  or 
windows  at  the  sides,  so  that  they  were  well  lighted  and 
well  ventilated  in  all  kinds  of  weather.  In  the  whole 
arrangement,  great  care  was  successfully  bestowed,  for 
comfort  and  convenience. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON. 


53 


THe  "  Neptune,"  when  at  sea,  was  not  only  a  floating 
palace,  but  also  a  floating  empire  The  captain  was  an 
absolute  monarch,  and  reigned  supreme.  Mrs.  Waters 
was  empress,  and  shared  the  throne  with  him  who  held 
the  sceptre.  The  chief  mate  or  executive  officer  was 
prime  minister,  the  other  officers  holding  lower  positions 
in  the  general  government ;  the  B'oson  being  a  sort  of 
master  of  horse,  and  the  steward  chief  chamberlain, 
valet,  etc. 

In  the  household  of  the  empress,  Lizzie  was  first  maid 
of  honor,  and  filled  other  important  positions,  with  great 
credit  to  herself  and  advantage  to  her  royal  mistress,  and 
to  all  the  subjects  of  the  realm. 

The  "  Neptune  "  was  one  of  the  largest  freighting  ships 
sailing  under  the  American  flag,  and  the  captain  always 
carried  a  large  crew  for  such  a  large  ship,  saying,  "  There 
is  nothing  saved  by  being  short  handed  at  sea." 

Over  his  empire,  officers  and  subjects,  the  monarch 
held  his  sceptre  so  firmly,  and  at  the  same  time  exercised 
his  power  so  mildly,  that  he  fully  controlled  his  people, 
and  while  they  obeyed,  they  loved  and  esteemed  him. 

The  empress  and  her  maid  of  honor  were  ever  ready 
and  active  in  visiting  the  sick,  and  in  contributing  to  the 
comfort  and  welfare  of  the  whole  people.  Thus  all 
uniting  to  make  the  empire  prosperous  and  the  people 
happy. 

The  captain  not  only  owned  the  ship,  but  frequently 
the  cargo,  purchasing  a  cargo  in  one  part  of  the  world, 
taking  it  to  another  and  distant  part  of  the  world,  and 
there  selling  it  and  purchasing  again.  In  this  way,  for 
many  years,  he  sailed  around  the  world,  and  over  every 
ocean  navigated  by  ships,  and  that  without  meeting  with 
any  serious  disaster,  or  being  shipwrecked  on  any  coast. 

Captain  Waters  was  a  perfect,  a  finished  seaman,  and  a 
proficient  navigator,  and  it  could  hardly  be  otherwise 
with  one  of  his  experience.  He  was  also  a  man  of  great 
executive  abilities,  as  his  success  in  life,  his  uniform  quick 
passages,  and  continued  good  discipline  on  board,  were 
sufficient  proofs. 

In  retiring  from  the  sea,  and  going  on  a  farm,  it  was  not 


54 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


to  make  money.  The  captain  had  enough  of  that  al 
ready,  but  it  was  to  have  something  to  occupy  his  mind 
and  time,  gratify  a  long-cherished  desire,  and  furnish  a 
good  home  for  those  who  had  long  been  his  companions 
on  the  ocean. 

A  few  days  after  Bill's  misunderstanding  with  the  sheep, 
there  was  an  occasion  to  use  the  ox-cart.  It  needed 
greasing,  and  the  captain  called  : 

"  Bo'son  !   Bo'son  !  " 

44  Aye !  aye,  sir !  "  was  Bill's  answer. 

"  Go  ask  the  steward  if  he  has  any  slush,  to  slush  this 
ox-cart." 

"  Plenty  of  slush  on  board,  sir,  without  going  to  the 
steward." 

44  If  that  is  so,  Bo'son,  bring  it  along,  for  Josh  is  in  a 
hurry." 

Bill  went  into  the  midship-house,  and  soon  returned 
with  a  tin  can  that  contained  about  fifteen  pounds  of  good, 
clean  ship  slush.  When  the  captain  saw  it,  he  said : 

"  I  wish  we  had  some  tar  to  mix  with  it." 

41  Hold  on,  then,"  said  Bill ;  "  there  is  plenty  of  tar  on 
board.  How  much  do  you  want,  Capt'n  ? " 

44  O !  only  about  a  quart." 

Bill  went  again  to  his  house,  and  returned  with  a  regu 
lar  ship's  tar-bucket,  containing  the  required  quantity  of 
Norway  tar,  and  bringing  with  him  a  tar-brush. 

"Where  did  you  get  that  tar?  "  asked  the  captain. 

"  Brought  it  from  the  ship  with  me,"  was  the  Bo'son's 
answer. 

"  How  much  have  you  of  it,  Bo'son  ? " 

44  Fifteen  gallons,  sir — about  half  a  barrel." 

"  Now,  Bo'son,  tell  me  what  put  it  into  your  head  to 
bring  tar  to  a  farm  ?  for  I  never  thought  of  it,  and  I  ought 
to  know  more  about  it  than  you  do." 

44  Capt'n,  I  have  never  been  anywhere  since  I  was  a 
very  small  boy  that  tar  wasn't  used,  and  you  can't  do  a 
good  job  at  anything  without  it.  If  you  want  to  set  up 
the  rigging,  or  strap  a  block,  you  need  tar ;  if  you  want 
to  put  a  handle  in  an  axe,  put  some  tar  on  the  handle 
vhere  it  goes  into  the  eye,  drive  and  wedge  it,  and  it  is 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO* SON.  55 

sure  to  stay  there.  We  don't  any  of  us  know  when  we 
shall  die,  or  where  we  shall  be  buried;  but,  if  I  am  ever 
buried  on  the  land,  I  want  the  box  I  am  put  in  tarred  on 
the  inside,  and  then  no  small  insects  will  get  in  there  to 
bother  and  disturb  me,  for  they  can't  live  where  there  is 
tar.  I  knew  tar  would  come  handy  for  something  up 
here,  though  I  didn't  know  it  was  used  on  ox-carts." 

"We  don't  intend  burying  you  at  present,  Bo'son,  but 
I'll  remember  the  tar,  if  I  am  on  hand  at  the  time;  and 
now  I  want  you  to  tell  me  how  much  paint  and  oil  will 
be  wanted  to  paint  the  house  inside  and  outside,  and  for 
what  painting  is  needed  on  the  other  buildings,  as  I  am 
going  to  New  York  this  evening  on  business,  and  I  will 
send  it  up." 

Bill  replied  by  saying  :  "  We  have  plenty  of  paint  on 
board,  sir,  for  all  the  painting  you  want  done." 

"  How  much  have  you,  Bo'son  ?" 

"  One  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  pure  English  white 
lead,  ten  gallons  of  raw  and  five  gallons  of  boiled  linseed 
oil,  five  gallons  of  spirits  of  turpentine,  and  all  the  dif 
ferent  colors  and  brushes  needed." 

"  Bo'son,"  said  the  captain,  "  how  is  it  that  you  thought 
to  bring  paints,  oil,  brushes,  and  tar  to  the  farm,  when  I 
never  told  you  that  they  would  be  wanted  here  ?  " 

"  I  knew,  sir,  that  you  had  long  depended  on  me  to 
have  at  hand  everything  you  called  for,  and  I  knew  that 
you  would  want  all  the  buildings,  fences,  carts  and  wagons 
on  the  farm  painted  and  kept  in  as  good  order  as  you 
have  been  accustomed  to  have  the  ship  kept.  We  had  all 
kinds  of  paints  on  board  of  the  ship,  and  you  left  it  with 
me  to  bring  such  articles  as  I  thought  would  be  useful  on 
the  farm,  and  I  have  done  so,  hoping  that  I  have  made  no 
mistake.  When  you  call  for  anything  wanted  on  the  farm, 
that  was  on  the  ship,  and  the  Bo'son  don't  produce  it, 
then  you  may  say  you  are  sorry  you  brought  your  Bo'son 
with  you." 

"  I  think,  Bill,  you  were  right  when  you  said  '  I  couldn't 
navigate  a  farm  without  my  steward  and  Bo'son,'  for  I 
find  you  both  so  useful,  and  so  much  in  your  places,  that 
I  should  be  short-handed  without  you." 


56  CAfTAfJV  WATERS 

"  You  must  remember,  Capt'n,  that  we  are  not  used  to 
this  ship  yet,  and  that  everything  is  new  to  us,  that  we 
have  not  had  time  to  put  things  in  their  places,  but  in  ten 
days  more,  when  you  return  from  New  York,  we  will  have 
the  whole  cargo  stowed  away,  the  decks  cleared  and 
washed  off,  and  with  us  you  will  feel  at  home.  There  are 
a  great  many  things  here  that  will  be  useful  beside  the 
Boson,  and  we  are  sure  of  a  good  voyage." 

"  Yes,  yes,  Bill ;"  said  the  Captain,  "  I  am  satisfied  that 
I  have  done  right  in  selling  the  ship  and  coming  to  the 
country,  and  I  am  also  well  pleased  that  you  and  the 
others  are  with  me." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  the  Bo'son,  touching  his  hat. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

BLACK-EYED  SUSAN  AND  HER  FRIENDS. 

HTHE  Captain  had  not  been  gone  long  from  his  home, 
1  and  was  hardly  out  of  sight  from  his  door,  where 
Mrs.  Waters  was  still  standing,  after  bidding  him  good 
bye,  and  wishing  him  a  pleasant  time  and  a  safe  return, 
when  Bill  walked  up  to  her  and  touching  his  hat  (which 
was  his  invariable  custom  when  he  spoke  to  any  one  in  a 
position  of  life  above  his  own),  said  : 

"  Mrs.  Waters,  will  the  Captain  bring  black-eyed  Susan 
up  with  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Bo'son  ;  that  is  fixed  on  ;  she  wants  to  come  and 
we  want  her." 

'  Will  the  flying  sky-sail  come  with  her  ? " 
'  Who  do  you  mean  by  the  flying  sky-sail  ? " 
'  I  mean,  marm,  Julia  Fizzlebob." 
'  I  think  you  must  mean  Julia  Fizzlebaugh." 
1  That,"  said  the  Bo'son,  "  is.  the  one,  but  what  a  name  ? 
I  can  never  get  it  right,  and  it  is  no  great  matter,  as  she 
is  of  but  little  account." 

"  I  am  surprised,  Bo'son,  to  hear  you  speak  so  of 
Susie's  friend,  because  you  are  not  apt  to  judge  anyone 
unjustly  or  unkindly." 


AMD  SILL,  HIS  BO  *SOtf.  5  7 

u  No,  good  lady  ;  I  am  not  much  given  to  expressing 
my  opinion  about  people,  but  that  Julia  has  neither  head 
nor  heart,  and  if  you  and  black-eyed  Susan  don't  know 
it  the  Bo'son  does." 

"  You  can  never  see  anything  good  in  others,  when 
Susie  is  around.  If  you  were  a  young  man,  Bo'son,  I 
should  expect  you  to  fall  in  love  and  marry  her ;  but  why 
do  you  call  her  friend  the  '  flying  skysail  ? '  ' 

"  Because  she  will  be  of  no  account,  when  'set,'  to  help 
any  one  along,  any  more  than  a  flying  sky-sail  helps  a 
ship  through  the  water,  and  if  furled,  would  be  in  the 
way  of  furling  the  royal;  that  is  a  bigger  and  a  better 
sail." 

It  is  only  proper  that  the  reader  should  learn  who  these 
girls  are,  as  they  will  frequently  appear,  and  act  conspicu 
ous  parts. 

Susie  Morton  was  a  grand-daughter  of  Captain  Waters, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  she  had  made  a  number 
of  voyages  in  the  ship;  first,  when  very  young,  in  com 
pany  with  her  mother,  and  one  to  Europe  without  her 
mother.  Since  leaving  school,  Susie  was  a  great  pet 
and  favorite  of  the  Captain's,  and  if  possible,  in  still 
greater  favor  with  Bill  the  Bo'son. 

Susie  was  a  lovely  girl,  possessing  nature's  richest  gifts, 
both  in  body  and  mind;  of  medium  size,  and  having  a 
well-formed  person,  a  fine  head  covered  with  black  hair, 
large  black  eyes,  beautifully  arched  with  heavy  eyebrows, 
and  fringed  with  long  eyelashes.  A  single  glance  at  her 
eyes  told  a  close  observer  that  she  had  a  heart  that  could 
love  deeply  and  constantly;  that  it  might  be  indifferent 
towards  individuals,  but  never  harbored  hate.  She  ac 
quired  knowledge  from  books  with  ease,  and  in  less  time 
than  her  classmates,  and  when  once  in  possession  of 
knowledge  on  any  subject,  ever  afterwards  retained  it. 
Her  disposition  was  mild  and  cheerful ;  she  was  firm  in 
opinion  and  action  when  believing  that  she  was  right,  and 
industrious  in  all  things  that  would  be  of  use  to  herself  and 
others.  An  early  riser  from  early  childhood,  often 
when  others  of  the  family  were  sleeping,  Susie  would  be 
up,  and  when  not  engaged  with  her  lessons,  would  be 


58  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

gliding  about  her  father's  house,  so  gently  as  not  to  dis 
turb  the  sleepers.  Mornings,  when  the  only  member  of 
the  family  that  would  be  up,  except  the  servants,  she 
would  busy  herself  in  various  ways;  sometimes  in  attend 
ing  to  her  flowers  and  plants,  sometimes  in  arranging  and 
dusting  the  parlors,  and  sometimes  in  the  kitchen  and 
dining-room  with  the  girl,  always  putting  her  hand  on  the 
right  thing,  and  putting  it  in  the  right  place. 

Her  father  and  mother  were  very  much  opposed  to  her 
being  with  the  servants,  or  doing  anything  that  belonged 
to  the  servants  to  do;  but  Susie  was  so  good-natured 
about  it  that  she  managed  to  laugh  them  out  of  what 
they  told  Susie  was  "  propriety."  Susie,  with  a  joyous 
laugh,  would  say:  "  Never  mind  about  proprieties,  a  little 
wholesome  exercise  in  the  morning,  to  give  a  young  girl 
an  appetite  for  breakfast,  and  some  knowledge  of  house 
hold  duties,  are  in  value  worth  a  whole  ship  load  of  what 
you  call  proprieties." 

"  There  now,  you  learnt  that  expression  from  your 
grandfather  Waters,"  said  her  mother. 

"  Yes,  mother  dear,  it  is  very  likely  I  did,  and  what 
you  are  pleased  to  call  an  expression,  conveys  an  impor 
tant  lesson  that  I  wish  all  young  girls  would  learn  and 
practice;  that  is,  to  rise  early,  and  learn  at  home,  while 
young,  what  it  will  be  necessary  for  them  to  know,  when 
housekeepers  themselves;  I  pity  young  girls  who  go  out 
into  the  world  with  no  knowledge,  except  what  they  have 
gained  at  school,  and  from  books,  and  pity  still  more  the 
men  that  they  may  be  united  to  in  marriage." 

Julia  Fizzlebaugh  was  cousin  to  Susie,  on  the  side  of 
Susie's  father,  and  in  no  way  related  to  Captain  Waters 
or  his  family,  except  to  his  son-in-law.  Julia  was  a  dash 
ing  girl,  an  only  child  of  parents  with  limited  means,  who 
had  found  it  extremely  difficult  to  meet  the  expenses  of 
educating  their  daughter,  and  in  keeping  up  such  ap 
pearances  as  would  enable  the  daughter  to  match  herself 
with  a  fortune.  Her  education  was  only  superficial,  but 
suited,  as  they  thought,  to  their  purposes.  She  could 
sing,  play  on  the  piano,  and  dance  ;  had  read  all  the  pop 
ular  novels,  attended  the  operas  and  concerts  of  the  day, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  59 

and  considered  herself  an  accomplished  young  lady.  She 
was  incapable  of  turning  her  hand  to  a  single  useful  occu 
pation,  nor  had  she  one  correct  idea  of  the  duties  or  the 
responsibilities  of  life.  Some  thought  her  handsome,  but 
it  was  only  those  who  admired  light  hair.  That  she  made 
a  good  appearance  in  company,  and  was  attractive,  none 
of  her  acquaintances  ever  denied,  although  some  differ 
ence  of  opinion  existed  in  regard  to  her  being  beautiful. 
She  was  strong-minded  on  one  subject — that  of  a  rich 
husband.  On  all  other  subjects,  her  mind  was  very 
unstable. 

Susie  and  Julia  had  been  companions  and  schoolmates 
from  childhood,  and,  though  differing  widely  in  every  re 
spect,  mind,  habits,  taste  and  feelings,  they  always 
seemed  to  live  agreeably  together,  and  certainly  never  in 
terfered  with  each  other,  about  young  men  visitors. 

Julia  was  idle  and  listless  in  her  habits,  cold  in  her 
affections,  and  selfish  in  her  nature.  If  she  could  only  be 
gratified  in  idleness  and  luxury,  she  cared  not  how  the 
means  of  her  indulgence  were  obtained.  She  showed  no 
sympathy  for  the  struggles  and  privations  of  her  parents, 
and  would  lie  for  hours  on  the  parlor  sofa,  with  a  novel 
in  one  hand,  and  petting  a  cat  with  the  other  hand,  while 
her  aged  grandmother  was  attending  to  household  duties, 
and  her  feeble  mother  in  the  kitchen,  washing  and  ironing 
her  summer  dresses.  She  would  sit  all  the  early  part  of 
a  night  in  one  easy  chair,  with  her  feet  in  another,  reading 
some  new  work,  and  in  the  morning  be  ready  for  her 
breakfast,  sometimes  after  all  the  family  had  taken  theirs. 
She  was  never  known  to  be  ready  for  breakfast,  when 
breakfast  was  ready.  Rising  early  was  unknown  to  her. 
She  was  a  great  eater  of  good  things,  and  when  there  was 
anything  good  to  eat,  she  expected  two  shares,  no  matter 
how  it  was  procured,  or  who  had  to  go  without.  Her 
parents  loved  her,  and  wished  her  to  be  conspicuous,  and 
obtain  a  rich  husband  To  accomplish  that,  they  had 
made  great  sacrifices  and  great  exertion,  without  seeming 
to  realize  that  they  had  assisted  nature  in  making  a  fin 
ished  nothing  of  their  daughter,  and  been  paving  the  way 
to  her  worldly  misery  in  the  future. 


60  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Frank  Livingston  and  George  Wilson  were  a  couple  of 
young  men,  differing  as  widely  in  character,  habits  and 
position  in  society,  as  Susie  Morton  and  Julia  Fizzlebaugh 
did. 

Frank  Livingston  was  left  with  a  large  fortune,  that  he 
came  into  full  possession  of  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years.  He  was  master  of  his  fortune  and  of  himself,  with 
no  one  to  control  him,  and  no  one  with  sufficient  influ 
ence  over  him  to  direct  him  rightly.  He  had  received  a 
good  education,  and  with  his  means  and  family  influence, 
moved  in  good  society.  He  used  his  money  freely,  and 
for  the  first  few  years  after  coming  of  age,  had  no  occa 
sion  to  encroach  on  the  principal,  his  interest  being  suffi 
cient  for  all  his  wants.  After  a  while,  his  expenses  in 
creased,  and  he  indulged  himself  at  fashionable  games ; 
sometimes  played  when  excited  with  stimulants,  and  he 
became  a  heavy  loser,  although  it  was  not  generally 
known. 

George  Wilson  was  the  son  of  a  sea-captain.  His  father 
was  lost  at  sea  when  he  was  only  a  lad,  leaving  his  mother, 
himself  and  sister  to  fight  their  way  in  the  world,  and  with 
very  limited  means  to  do  so.  George  was  carefully  edu 
cated  by  his  mother,  notwithstanding  her  limited  means, 
and  it  was  a  mystery  to  many  how  Mrs.  Wilson  managed 
to  keep  her  children  well  dressed,  and  at  the  best  of 
schools. 

George  dearly  loved  his  mother  and  sister,  Laura,  only 
two  years  younger  than  himself,  and  he  made  great  ex 
ertions  to  increase  the  comforts  of  their  home,  and  ren 
der  them  happy. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  his  education  was  com 
pleted,  and  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  choose  some  occu* 
pation,  that  would  increase  the  means  for  supporting  the 
family ;  at  least  George  so  considered  it.  Notwithstand 
ing  his  father  had  been  lost  at  sea,  that  circumstance  did 
not  prevent  him  from  choosing  the  ocean  as  an  element 
on  which  to  battle  for  bread  and  honor.  George's  father 
had  sailed  with  Captain  Waters,  and  was  a  number  of  voy 
ages  his  first  officer.  Captain  Waters  received  George  on 
board  of  his  ship  as  a  boy,  placed  him  under  the  special 


AND  SILL,  HIS  BO  >SOtf.  fo 

Cafe  of  Bill  the  Bo'son,  giving  him,  as  the  son  of  an  old 
friend,  better  wages  than  he  could  have  obtained  with  a 
stranger. 

George  and  the  Bo'son  were  soon  warm  friends, — the 
Bo'son  anxious  to  teach,  and  George  anxious  to  learn,  so 
that  the  young  lad  in  time,  became  an  able  and  perfect 
seaman.  Captain  Waters  took  a  great  interest  in  the  young 
man ;  taught  him  navigation,  made  him  third,  and  then  sec 
ond  officer  of  the  "  Neptune,"  which  position  he  held  on 
the  last  voyage  made  by  Captain  Waters  and  his  family. 

George  Wilson  was  the  pride  and  boast  of  Bill  Thomas, 
and  idolized  almost  as  much  as  the  ship  was.  More 
about  "  black-eyed  Susan's"  friends  will  appear  in  future 
chapters. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CAPTAIN    WATERS    RETURNS,     AND     IS     WELCOMED    BY   A 
SALUTE. 

CAPTAIN  Waters  had  long  depended  on  his  steward 
and  Bo'son  when  at  sea,  and  feeling  sure  that  all  his 
orders  would  be  obeyed,  he  left  the  farm  with  orders  to 
make  such  alterations  in  the  house  as  the  lady  might 
wish,  and  then  to  paint,  inside  and  outside,  and  he  was 
certain  it  would  be  properly  done. 

Being  new  neighbors,  and  supposed  to  have  plenty  of 
ready  money,  there  was  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  the 
necessary  assistance,  as  all  appeared  to  feel  a  great  desire 
to  learn  particulars  about  Captain  Waters,  his  family,  and 
all  the  strange  and  curious  things  that  he  had  brought 
from  other  countries,  and  also  to  become  acquainted  with 
the  old  Bo'son. 

According  to  Bill's  account,  "  such  works  had  never 
been  known  in  that  latitude  before."  Alterations  were 
made  in  the  house,  and  especially  in  the  kitchen ;  carpets 
cut  and  fitted,  every  part  of  the  house  painted,  some  of 
the  rooms  papered,  and  all  the  furniture  properly  arranged. 


g2  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Work  at  the  same  time  was  going  on  outside,  such  as 
changing  fences,  and  of  painting  all  the  buildings,  and  of 
putting  every  thing  in  perfect  order. 

The  Bo'son  was  every  where,  doing,  as  the  men  said, 
"  more  work  than  any  two  of  us  can,  and  finding  work  for 
all  the  rest  of  us  to  do."  The  Bo'son  had  for  many  years 
been  accustomed  to  lay  out  work,  and  see  that  others  did 
it;  so  that  it  was  all  natural  to  him.  After  getting  the 
other  work  well  along,  iie  turned  his  attention  to  the  mid 
ship-house,  and  the  necessary  improvements  and  altera 
tions  to  be  made  there.  He  fitted  the  lower  story  to  look 
as  near  as  possible  like  his  room  on  board  of  the  "  Nep 
tune,"  only  it  was  much  larger,  and  his  own  berth  wider 
and  better  arranged ;  also  a  berth  on  the  opposite  side,  to 
be  used  by  any  friend  that  might  be  on  board,  visiting  the 
Bo'son. 

The  second  floor  was  fitted  up  to  be  used  as  a  sail-room 
and  rigging  loft,  where  was  to  be  stored  all  the  canvas, 
coils  of  rope  and  other  articles  used  on  board  of  a  ship, 
and  that  Bill  had  taken  from  the  "  Neptune." 

The  Bo'son  had  built  a  locker  for  paints  and  brushes, 
and  another  for  such  articles  as  are  generally  used  about 
the  rigging,  and  kept  in  the  "  Bo'son's  locker  "  of  a  ship. 

When  the  midship-house  was  finished,  and  painted  in 
side,  Bill  unpacked  his  stores,  and  put  things  in  their 
places.  There  was  nothing  ever  taken  to  sea  in  a  ship, 
and  that  could  be  used  on  a  farm,  that  the  Bo'son  hadn't 
with  him,  and  many  things  that  could  not  be  used  on  a 
farm  for  the  same  purposes  that  they  had  been  used  at 
sea.  Such  as  a  hand  lead  and  line,  a  deep  sea  lead  and 
line,  and  a  ship's  log  line  ;  but  they  could  be  used  on  a 
farm,  or  at  least  some  of  them,  for  other  purposes  than 
they  were  designed.  There  were,  however,  many  other 
things  that  would  be  useful,  such  as  carpenters'  and  black 
smiths'  tools,  signal  lanterns,  water  buckets,  hickory 
brooms,  and  many  small  articles. 

The  midship-house  stood  end  to  the  road,  and  near 
the  gable  the  Bo'son  built  something  in  the  form  of  a  ship's 
bows,  and  on  it  placed  an  exact  image  of  "  Neptune,"  as 
represented  on  the  ship.  He  made  a  bowsprit,  and  se- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  63 

cured  it  on  the  ridge  of  the  house,  over  the  head  of  his 
friend  "  Neptune,"  and  run  a  spar  through  the  roof  at  the 
ridge  for  a  mast,  on  which  he  put  shrouds  and  stays,  and 
from  which  he  sent  up  a  top-mast,  shrouded  and  stayed 
in  the  same  manner.  He  then  built  outside,  and  in  front 
of  the  house,  a  platform  of  heavy  timbers  and  planks,  on 
which  he  mounted  a  nine-pounder  brass  cannon,  that  he 
took  from  the  ship,  and  then  said:  " The  midship-house 
is  now  ready  for  paint  on  the  outside,"  and  it  was  so 
painted,  being  the  last  of  all  the  buildings  on  the  farm 
that  received  the  touches  of  the  brush. 

Bill  next  turned  his  attention  to  erecting  flag-staffs  on 
the  house,  barn,  and  on  all  the  farm  buildings,  which  he 
finished  on  the  third  of  July,  the  day  before  Captain 
Waters  was  to  return  to  his  country  home. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth,  Bill  was  up  bright  and 
early,  for  it  was  a  great  day  for  Bill  Thomas  the  Bo'son. 

At  sunrise  he  run  the  American  flag  up  at  the  main, — that 
is  from  the  mast  at  his  house, — and  fired  a  salute  of  as  many 
guns  as  there  were  then  States  in  the  Union.  The  Bo'son 
was  aware  that  thirteen  guns  are  considered  a  morning 
salute  for  the  fourth  of  July,  but  said  : 

"Give  every  State  in  the  Union  a  gun  this  morning." 

Bill  was  more  than  usually  patriotic,  as  he  was  fully 
aware  that  he  was  on  the  Saratoga  battle-field,  and  where 
so  many  heavy  guns  hadn't  been  fired  since  the  day  when 
the  American  army,  under  General  Gates,  defeated  the 
British  army,  under  General  Burgoyne,  and  turned  the 
tide  of  war  in  favor  of  the  Americans. 

The  quiet  Quakers  in  the  neighborhood  were  a  little 
disturbed  at  first,  but  didn't  appear  much  displeas*  d  at 
the  noisy  display  of  the  Bo'son's  patriotism.  The  society 
of  friends  are  friends  to  their  country  and  to  good  order. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  Bo'son  fired  one  gun,  beat  the 
drum  and  set  all  his  colors.  The  display  of  bunting  that 
Bill  made  was  very  great,  and  Mrs.  Waters,  Lizzie  and  the 
steward,  though  all  pleased,  were  all  much  astonished 
that  he  had  so  many  flags  with  him  on  the  farm. 

Every  building  had  one  or  more  flags  hoisted  over  it, 
and  the  Bo'son's  house  had  them  streaming  from  mast- 


64  CAPTAM  WATERS 

head,  down  each  side,  as  near  as  they  could  be  displayed 
on  the  halliards  ;  and  also  from  the  mast-head  to  the  end 
of  the  bowsprit :  it  was  a  glorious  sight  to  see. 

About  noon  it  was  expected  that  the  captain  would 
reach  home,  and  with  him  his  grand-daughter,  Susie. 

As  the  time  drew  near,  the  Bo'son  seemed  much  ex 
cited  for  one  so  usually  self-possessed.  Whether  it  was 
because  the  captain  was  coming  home,  or  because  "  black- 
eyed  Susan  "  was  coming  with  him,  was  more  than  any  of 
the  family  could  tell. 

The  carriage  had  been  sent  to  meet  the  captain,  and 
the  Bo'son  had  stationed  himself  on  the  mansion  house, 
with  a  spy-glass,  and  was  on  the  look-out.  He  was  ob 
served  to  close  the  glass  and  come  down  with  haste,  go  to 
the  gun  and  fire  it  off,  and  then  load  and  fire  as  fast  as 
he  could,  keeping  tally  with  a  piece  of  chalk,  and  fired 
the  twenty-first  gun  as  the  captain  arrived  at  the  gate. 

The  Bo'son  took  off  his  hat,  gave  three  cheers,  and  was 
ready  to  meet  his  captain  and  Susie.  The  greeting  be 
tween  the  captain  and  family  was  affectionate  and  hearty, 
and  equally  so  between  the  captain  and  his  Bo'son.  The 
women  folks  took  charge  of  Susie,  after  she  had  shaken 
Bill  by  the  hand,  and  bestowed  a  warm  kiss  on  his  sun 
burnt  cheek,  which  he  received  and  returned  with  inter 
est,  as  due  and  to  be  paid. 

The  captain  again  took  the  Bo'son  by  the  hand,  and 
walked  with  him  towards  the  midship-house,  and  the  first 
words  he  said  were : 

"  Bo'son,  what  does  all  this  mean  ?" 

"  It  means,  sir,  that  the  ship  is  ready  for  sea,  and  the 
capt'n  on  board." 

Captain  Waters,  when  he  reached  the  midship-house, 
relinquished  the  hand  of  the  Bo'son,  and  surveyed  all 
with  pride  and  satisfaction  ;  but  there  was  in  his  counte 
nance  the  evidence  of  great  anxiety.  The  Bo'son  noticed 
it,  without  being  able  to  judge  the  cause,  and  while  he 
hoped  that  his  captain  would  approve  of  all  that  he  had 
done,  he  feared  that  something  was  wrong  ;  that  he  had 
done  too  much,  or  not  enough,  in  preparing  for  and  wel 
coming  -his  captain  and  black-eyed  Susan  on  board  of  the 
new  ship. 


JSfLL,  JffS  JBO*SOtf.  65 

Captain  Waters  pointed  with  his  finger  at  the  image  of 
"  Neptune  "  over  the  door,  and  said  : 

"  Bo'son,  where  did  that  come  from  ?  Did  you  take  it 
from  the  ship  in  your  madness  and  folly,  and  disgrace  me 
by  disfiguring  the  ship  ? " 

Bill's  face  underwent  as  many  changes  of  color  as 
would  a  struck  dolphin,  but  after  a  few  minutes'  reflec 
tion,  answered : 

"  No,  sir  ;  the  Bo'son  never  disgraced  his  capt'n,  nor 
his  ship,  and  would  have  fought  hard  before  anyone 
should  have  taken  the  image  of  '  Neptune  '  from  the  bow 
of  the  ship.  You,  sir,  were  the  last  of  the  family  who 
left  the  ship,  and  when  we  were  towed  out  of  the  dock 
on  the  canal-boat,  the  last  object  that  I  looked  upon  was 
old  '  Neptune,'  on  the  bow  of  the  ship,  still  holding  firmly 
his  trident." 

"  Where,  then,  did  you  get  this  one  from,  that  looks  so 
much  like  the  original  ?  " 

"  I  made  it,  sir,"  was  the  Bo'son'?  reply.  "  It  has  taken 
me  seven  years  to  do  it.  I  thought  I  might  some  day  be 
'  hauled  up  in  ordinary,'  and  want  something  to  remem 
ber  the  ship  by ;  and  so  I  worked  on  this  many  hours, 
when  no  one  saw  me,  and  always  kept  it  under  my  berth, 
and  it  was  never  seen  by  any  person  but  myself,  until 
yesterday,  when  I  took  it  out  of  the  box.  Don't  it  look 
like  old  '  Neptune,'  sir  ? "  Bill  took  off  his  hat  and  bowed 
to  the  image,  as  he  asked  the  question. 

"  Yes,  Bo'son,"  said  the  Captain,  "  it  looks  so  much 
like  the  original,  that  I  at  first  feared  that  you  had  stolen 
it;  but  I  ought  to  know  better.  How  is  it  that  you  have 
that  gun  and  all  this  bunting  you  are  flying?" 

"  That  gun,  nor  this  bunting,  were  not  on  the  list  of 
articles  sold  with  the  ship;  I  left  colors  enough  on  board, 
and  left  the  iron  gun,  but  not  the  Bo'son's  '  bull-dog,' " 
was  Bill's  answer. 

Captain  Water's  face  had  lost  every  appearance  of 
anxiety,  and  was  lit  up  with  joy  and  satisfaction  at  the  con 
clusion  of  the  Bo'son's  reply,  and  taking  Bill  by  the  hand, 
he  fairly  shook  him  with  his  right,  while  he  slapped  him 
over  the  shoulder  with  his  left  hand,  and  such  slaps  as 


66  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

few  shoulders  could  have  stood  without  being  unjointed. 
At  length  the  Captain  said: 

"  You  are  my  old  Bo'son  yet,  and  nothing  can  change 
you;  but  what  in  the  name  of  'Neptune'  did  you  want 
of  all  these  flags?" 

"  To  set  on  such  a  day  as  this;  don't  they  look  fine,  sir?" 
The  Captain  was  willing  to  admit  that  they  did  look 
fine,  and  reminded  him  of  old  times,  but  he  was  still  more 
astonished  when  he  visited  the  inside  of  the  midship- 
house,  and  saw  the  quantities  of  rope,  canvas,  paints, 
buckets,  brooms,  lanterns,  tools,  and  about  everything 
used  on  shipboard,  and  all  so  arranged  that  any  article 
could  be  taken  out  without  removing  others.  The  Cap 
tain  knew  that  it  would  be  useless  to  remonstrate  with 
the  Bo'son  about  having  such  things  on  a  farm,  as  the 
Bo'son  would  constantly  reply  that  "  they  will  all  come  in 
use  before  the  voyage  ends,"  so  the  Captain  left  his 
Bo'son  in  all  his  glory,  and  went  to  the  house,  full  as 
much  delighted  as  Bill  himself  was. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

SUSIE'S  FIRST  MORNING  AT  THE  FARM. 

OUSIE  Morton  was  in  one  of  her  gayest  moods,  and 
^  knowing  that  she  was  a  favorite  with  every  member 
of  her  grandfather's  family,  made  her  feel  very  happy  to  be 
at  the  farm.  After  grandmother  came  Lizzie,  then  the  old 
steward  for  her  attention,  and  to  offer  to  her  a  warm  wel 
come,  and  last,  but  not  least,  the  old  dog  Bose,  that  had 
been  using  every  means  to  secure  her  attention;  that  is, 
as  far  as  he  could  without  neglecting  what  he  considered 
his  other  duties.  The  dog  would  dance  and  jump  about 
Susie,  and  then  run  out  to  where  the  Captain  and  the 
Bo'son  were,  fearing  that  he  might  be  needed,  or  that 
something  would  be  done  and  he  not  be  there.  When  Susie 
was  at  liberty,  after  having  received  the  caresses  of  all 
the  other  members  of  the  family,  taken  off  her  hat  and 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SON.  67 

sat  down,  then  old  Bose  walked  to  her,  laid  his  head  in 
her  lap,  and  looked  her  earnestly  in  the  face,  manifesting 
a  depth  and  strength  of  affection  equal  to  any  ever  ex 
hibited  by  a  human  being.  Susie  returned  his  kindness 
by  patting  him  on  the  head,  smoothing  down  his  hair,  and 
talking  to  him  as  she  had  heard  the  Bo'son  talk. 

When  the  Captain  joined  the  family  in  the  sitting-room, 
after  he  had  been  over  the  whole  house,  inspected  the 
improvements,  and  found  them  satisfactory,  he  was  in 
the  finest  possible  spirits,  and  after  talking  a  little  to  the 
dog,  said: 

"  Bill  Thomas  must  be  Bo'son,  no  matter  where  he  is, 
and  has  almost  made  a  ship  of  the  farm  before  the  first 
crop  is  harvested.  What  he  will  do  '  before  the  voyage  is 
up,'  as  he  calls  it,  is  more  than  any  of  us  can  tell,  or  when 
he  expects  the  voyage  to  end,  is  more  than  he  can  tell 
himself.  The  Bo'son  enjoys  it,  and  I  am  willing  that  he 
should,  for  he  seems  very  happy.  How,  Nancy,  has  he 
got  along  since  I  have  been  gone?" 

"  You  have  had  the  Bo'son  so  long  with  you,  Joseph, 
that  I  should  think  it  hardly  necessary  for  you  to  ask  that 
question.  You  know  the  Bo'son  always  gets  along  with 
whatever  he  has  to  do,  and  can  accomplish  whatever  he 
undertakes." 

"  Hold  on,  mother,"  said  the  captain,  "  you  must  ex 
cept  milking,  and  salting  the  sheep." 

"  That  is  so ;  but  such  duties  were  new  to  him,  and, 
with  time,  he  could  learn  them.  There  are  now  other 
duties  for  us  all ;  dinner  is  ready,  and  the  steward  is 
laboring  under  the  belief  that  the  captain  has  had  noth 
ing  fit  to  eat  since  he  left  home,  and  you  are  sure  to  be 
well  provided  for  to-day,"  was  Mrs.  Waters'  reply. 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder,"  said  the  captain,  "if  that  son  of 
'  Neptune,'  the  Bo'son,  gave  us  a  dinner  salute,  as  he  is 
bound  to  make  a  noise  to-day.  If  he  has  ten  tons  of 
powder  stowed  away  somewhere,  it  wouldn't  be  any  more 
strange  than  that  he  should  have  old  '  Neptune  '  for  seven 
years  under  his  berth.  There  goes  the  gun.  Well,  let 
him  fire.,  and  we  will  eat.'' 

Bill  did  fire,  and,  in  doing  so,  called  about  him  all  the 


68  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

young  men  of  the  neighborhood,  some  that  were  ad 
vanced  in  years,  and  also  some  of  the  young  women,  who 
came  to  see  the  flags,  hear  the  gun,  and  to  see  the  Bo'son 
and  his  dog. 

After  dinner,  the  captain  desired  the  steward  to  provide 
a  lunch  for  all  that  were  about  the  farm,  and  then  he  in 
vited  them  all  in  to  partake  of  it,  and  asked  them  to  visit 
any  part  of  the  house  that  they  wished,  and  to  examine 
whatever  was  worth  their  attention. 

Both  invitations  were  accepted.  Great  was  the  satis 
faction  of  the  neighbors  present,  great  the  marvels,  and 
great  the  stories  told  to  those  not  present. 

At  sunset  the  Bo'son  fired  his  last  salute,  hauled  down 
all  the  flags,  put  them  away,  and  considered  the  duties  of 
the  day  ended. 

The  family,  including  every  member,  by  special  invita 
tion  of  Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters,  spent  the  evening  in 
the  family  sitting  room,  where  they  enjoyed  a  social 
evening  until  a  late  hour,  when  all  retired. 

All  of  the  Waters  family  were  early  risers,  but  on  the 
next  morning  Susie  was  the  first  that  made  her  appear 
ance.  She  looked  as  bright  as  a  happy  human  being 
could  look.  Her  dark  hair  hung  in  curls  all  over  her 
head,  and  down  on  the  back  of  her  neck ;  her  dress,  a 
dark  calico,  with  short  sleeves,  displaying  arms  that  any 
warm-hearted  young,  or  even  old  man,  would  like  to  have 
around  his  neck,  fitted  a  person  that  was  faultless  in 
form,  and  made  her  look  what  she  really  was — a  lovely 
young  girl.  She  wore  slippers,  had  on  a  plain  white  col 
lar,  with  a  dark  stripe  in  it,  and  a  large  tow-cloth  apron, 
that  must  have  been  her  grandmother's. 

When  Susie  found  that  none  of  the  family  were  astir, 
she  commenced  singing,  "  I  am  a  merry  mountain  maid," 
and  her  sweet,  clear  voice  was  heard  ringing  through 
the  whole  houst,  which  aroused  the  family,  and  brought 
the  Bo'son  to  her  side. 

If  ever  one  being  loved  another  with  all  the  strength, 
purity  and  fervor  of  a  noble  and  generous  heart,  Bill 
Thomas  loved  Susie  Morton.  It  was  the  kind  of  love 
that  a  father  feels  for  a  child,  strong  enough  to  induce 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  gp 

him  to  watch  over  her  happiness  in  every  step  that  she 
took,  and  to  have  sacrificed  all  in  life,  and  life  itself, 
for  her  good.  Susie  esteemed  him  as  one,  that  by  nature 
and  habit,  was  very  noble  and  very  good.  They  had 
known  each  other  ever  since  Susie  was  a  child,  and  she 
had  confided  in,  and  trusted  the  old  Bo'son  with  the 
secrets  of  her  own  heart. 

The  Bo'son  entered  the  room  with  his  hat  in  his  hand, 
and  as  he  advanced  to  meet  her,  his  face  beaming  with 
smiles,  he  said : 

"  Good  morning,  Beauty  and  Sunshine." 

"  Good  morning,  Bill ;  but  you  mustn't  call  me  such 
names,  or  I  will  call  you  old  Blow-hard,  Whistling  Bill, 
Spun-yarn,  Barnacles,  and  anything  I  can  think  of,"  and 
she  laughed,  joyously  and  heartily. 

Bill  also  laughed  long  and  loud,  and  then  said  : 

"  All  right,  Morning-glory,  but  tell  me  about  Julia  Fiz- 
zlebob.  I  thought  she  was  coming  with  you,  and  am  glad 
she  didn't." 

"  Bo'son,"  said  Susie,  assuming  a  seriousness  that  she 
really  felt,  "  Julia  Fizzlebaugh  will  be  here  all  too  soon, 
and  with  her  Frank  Livingston ;  but  here  comes  grand 
mother,  and  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  the  first  chance  I 
have." 

Mrs.  Waters  looked  at  Susie  and  could  but  admire  her 
simple  dress  and  lovely  appearance,  and  then  asked 
her  why  she  was  so  dressed  ? 

"  I  am  going,  grandma,  to  learn  how  to  make  butter  and 
cheese,  and  how  to  cook  and  make  cake,  pies  and  pud 
dings  as  you  do.  Pa  and  ma  are  very  unwilling  that  I 
should  do  anything  about  the  house,  fearing  that  I  shall 
stain  my  hands,  or  enlarge  my  fingers ;  but  we  differ  in 
opinion,  and  you  have  taught  me  better  lessons,  and  I 
don't  mean  to  forget  them." 

"  Good  girl,"  said  Mrs.  Waters;  "  come  with  me  to  the 
milk-room,  and  Lizzie  and  I  will  give  you  the  first  lesson 
in  butter  making." 

They  went  to  the  milk-room  and  there  Susie  saw,  for 
the  first  time  in  her  life,  shelves  covered  with  bright  tin- 
pans  filled  with  milk,  and  saw  Lizzie  skim  those  that  had 


70  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

stood  long  enough  for  all  the  cream  to  rise,  saw  the  cream 
placed  in  the  churn,  and  the  pans  emptied  and  washed. 
Susie  was  still  uninformed  how  the  butter  was  to  be  made, 
but  concluded  to  wait  and  learn  from  seeing,  rather  than 
to  ask  questions. 

When  all  in  the  milk-room  but  the  butter  was  finished, 
the  steward  rung  the  breakfast  bell,  and  all  repaired  to 
the  dining-room. 

Susie  took  off  the  apron  worn  in  the  milk-room,  and 
put  one  of  a  different  kind  on,  before  going  to  the  table. 

Captain  Waters  looked  at,  and  almost  worshipped 
Susie,  as  the  little  idol  of  his  heart,  which  she  really  was. 
During  the  time  occupied  in  partaking  of  the  morning 
meal,  there  was  a  continual  fire  of  infantry  and  light  ar 
tillery,  or  something  that  might  be  compared  with  them, 
going  on  between  the  Captain  and  Susie  Morton,  in  which 
Mrs.  Waters  sometimes  joined,  always  going  to  the  assist 
ance  of  whichever  party  appeared  to  suffer  most  in  the 
fight.  The  forces  opposed  to  each  other  were  so  nearly 
equal,  that  Mrs.  Waters,  most  of  the  time,  had  to  remain 
neutral,  not  being  able  to  determine  on  which  side  to  place 
her  own  reserves.  Wha:  Susie  lacked  in  age  and  expe 
rience  was  made  up  in  wit  and  good  nature,  so  that  the 
two  were  well  matched. 

After  breakfast  the  Bo'son  appeared  at  the  door,  touched 
his  hat,  and  said  : 

"  Does  Mrs.  Capt'n  want  the  butter  pump  rigged  ? 

"  Yes,  Bo'son  ;  we  have  to  churn  to-day,"  was  the  lady's 
answer. 

"  Ay  !  ay !  marm,"  said  Bill,  with  another  touch  of  the 
hat,  and  away  he  went. 

The  Bo'son  had  watched  them  churning  by  hand,  and 
had  assisted,  but  found  the  work  too  hard  for  the  women 
folks,  even  with  a  small  dairy,  and  set  himself  about  to 
find  some  easier  way  of  converting  cream  into  butter, 
than  the  old-fashioned  one.  It  didn't  take  him  long,  be 
cause  he  fully  understood  the  difference  between  a  hand- 
pump  for  water  casks,  and  a  pump  worked  by  a  brake. 
He  rigged  the  churn  to  be  worked  by  a  brake,  in  the  same 
way  that  pumps  are  worked,  and  thus  lessened  the  labor 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  7! 

necessary  to  produce  butter,  as  he  had  a  lever,  instead  of 
a  direct  power.  The  Bo'son  called  it  the  "butter  pump," 
and  considerered  it  under  his  direction  and  management, 
believing  that  no  one  could  work  it  properly  but  himself. 
Susie  went  with  him  to  the  milk-room  and  saw  the 
churning,  and  there  arranged  with  the  Bo'son  to  visit  the 
fields  in  the  afternoon,  and  gather  flowers. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SUSIE  MORTON  TELLS  THE   BO'SON  SOME  LOVE  STORIES. 

SUSIE  Morton  wished  to  visit  the  fields,  but  not  to 
gather  wild  flowers,  though  she  might  return  with 
some  as  an  excuse  for  her  long  absence.  There  were 
pent  up  in  her  young,  pure  heart,  feelings  such  as  few  at 
her  age  had  experienced,  or  at  least  she  thought  so.  Bill 
the  Bo'son  was  the  only  one  that  she  could  make  a  con 
fident  of, — the  only  one,  as  she  believed,  who  could  advise 
her  rightly. 

Those  who  knew  the  Bo'son  slightly,  or  judged  him 
from  his  rough  outside,  would  have  thought  him  the  very 
last  person  that  a  young  girl,  just  out  of  school,  would  have 
told  her  love  affairs  to ;  but  Susie  was  not  of  the  every-day 
family  ;  she  seemed  to  possess  the  intuitive  power  of  pen 
etrating  the  hearts  of  others,  and  learning  that  the  Bo'son 
had  a  warm  and  tender  place  in  his  heart,  she  sought  and 
found  a  passage  to  it.  She  knew  his  heart  was  warm ; 
she  believed  his  judgment  was  sound  ;  and  as  she  could 
confide  in  the  one,  she  was  willing  to  be  governed  by  the 
other. 

William  Morton,  the  father  of  Susie,  was  a  merchant 
of  the  city  of  New  York.  He  was  not  rich,  according  to 
the  standard  of  wealth  of  his  day,  but  he  had  a  good, 
safe  business,  something  invested  out  of  his  business, 
and  an  income  that  more  than  supported  his  family  in  a 
good  position  in  society.  He  and  his  wife  were  proud, 
and  had  received  into  their  heads,  and  cherished  in  their 


?2  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

hearts,  the  idea  of  rich  relations,  family  connections, 
higher  circles,  best  society,  making  a  good  appearance, 
and  of  occupying  a  high  place  in  the  fashionable  world, 
which  always  costs  more  than  it  ever  comes  to.  They 
both  dearly  loved  their  daughter,  and  by  her  were  dearly 
loved  in  return.  The  daughter  was  considered  a  power 
ful  lever,  by  which  they  and  the  family  would  be  raised 
higher  in  the  fashionable  world.  Entertaining  such  views 
and  hopes,  they  had  obtained  a  promise  from  Susie  that 
she  would  not  marry  without  their  consent,  and  that 
promise  was  given  when  she  was  too  young  to  think  of 
marrying  at  all. 

Frank  Livingston  had  been  a  frequent  visitor  at  the 
house  of  her  father,  and  had  become  attached  to  the 
daughter,  but  had  made  no  offer  of  marriage  to  her, 
though  he  had  asked  and  received  permission  of  the 
father  to  do  so. 

The  subject  had  been  spoken  of  in  the  family,  and 
Susie  informed  of  the  wishes  of  Mr.  Livingston,  and  an 
attempt  made  to  draw  from  her  what  her  answer  would 
be.  The  parents  told  her  that  if  she  married  Frank,  she 
would  gratify  them,  and  hold  a  high  position  in  society. 

Susie  said :  "  It  will  be  time  enough  for  me  to  decide 
when  Mr.  Livingston  makes  the  offer,  and  until  then  please 
say  no  more  about  it." 

Susie  knew  the  ruling  passion  of  her  parents,  and  how 
difficult  it  would  be  to  overcome  it.  She  also  knew  more 
of  the  character  and  habits  of  Frank  Livingston  than  her 
father  and  mother  had  been  able  to  learn,  because  they 
were  satisfied  to  receive  him  into  the  family,  in  considera 
tion  of  his  position  in  the  fashionable  world,  and  his  fam 
ily  connections. 

Such  was  the  character  of  Susie  Morton,  and  such  had 
been  the  schooling  and  training  of  her  own  heart  and 
mind,  that  the  coming  struggle  did  not  greatly  disturb,  or 
interfere  with  her  happiness.  She  knew  her  own  strength 
as  well  as  she  did  the  weakness  of  her  parents,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  the  Bo'son,  expected  to  meet  and  over 
come  every  difficulty. 

She  could  not  love,  and  would  not  marry,  Frank  Liv- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  73 

ingston,  but  didn't  wish  to  pain  her  parents  by  telling 
them  so,  before  any  offer  of  marriage  had  been  made  to 
her ;  and  she  was  fully  aware  that  every  effort  on  the  part 
of  her  father  and  mother  would  be  made  to  induce  her 
to  accept  the  offer.  But  from  her  grandfather  she  had 
inherited,  not  only  a  large  portion  of  good  common  sense, 
but  also  a  firmness  of  purpose  and  decision  of  character 
that  could  not  be  shaken,  nor  changed  by  ordinary  events. 

In  the  afternoon,  the  Bo'son  and  Susie  took  their  way 
to  the  fields,  for  the  expressed  object  of  gathering  flowers; 
but  for  the  real  object,  on  the  part  of  Susie,  of  gathering 
strength,  and  of  fortifying  herself  by  the  assistance  of 
her  friend,  and  of  preparing  to  resist  an  attack  that  she 
felt  certain  would  be  made  upon  the  citadel  of  her 
future  happiness  ;  and,  on  the  part  of  Bill,  of  collecting 
information,  and  of  giving  assistance. 

They  went  to  Burgoyne  Hill,  and  there  found  com 
fortable  seats  under  the  shade  of  a  noble  old  oak,  that 
had  been  growing  and  standing  there  since  the  day  when 
General  Frasier  fell  near  the  spot,  and  the  American 
army,  under  General  Gates,  gained  a  victory. 

Seating  themselves  comfortably,  Bill  took  off  his  hat, 
laid  it  beside  him,  and  said : 

"  Now,  black-eyed  Susan,  tell  me  all  you  have  to  say — 
which  way  the  wind  is,  whether  it  is  fair  or  a  head,  if  you 
are  looking  for  a  storm,  and  from  what  point  of  the  com 
pass  you  expect  it — and  the  Bo'son  will,  if  he  can,  give 
you  a  course  to  steer  that  will  keep  you  clear  of  it." 

Susie  Morton  laid  one  of  her  little  hands  on  Bill's 
shoulder,  and  the  other  on  his  large,  rough  hand,  and 
looking  him  earnestly  in  the  face,  said  : 

"  I  know,  Bo'son,  that  you  will  aid  me,  because  you 
love  me,  and  have  carried  me  about  a  ship's-deck  in  your 
arms,  when  I  was  a  child,  and  steadied  me  with  your 
strong  arm  when  I  have  been  walking  the  deck  in  rough 
weather,  since  I  was  a  young  woman.  Now,  again,  I  want 
your  willing  heart  and  strong  hands,  or  I  shall  founder." 

The  Bo'son  placed  the  "  call "  in  his  mouth,  as  though 
he  was  about  to  "  pipe  all  hands  to  action,"  but  Susie 
took  it  from  him,  saying,  as  she  did  so : 


y4  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  Bo'son,  the  time  has  not  come  for  action — it  is  only 
talk  we  want  to-day." 

"  I  know  it ;  but  when  you  talk  of  foundering,  it  is 
time  to  make,  or  take  in  sail,"  was  Bill's  answer. 

"  Bo'son,"  said  Susie,  with  the  same  seriousness  that 
she  had  shown  in  the  morning,  when  they  first  met,  and 
when  she  was  speaking  of  Frank  and  Julia,  which  the 
Bo'son  then  observed,  and  knew  was  caused  by  some  deep 
and  unusual  feelings,  "hear  what  I  have  to  say,  and  then 
tell  me  what  to  do." 

"  I'll  do  it,  Rosebud  ;  you  can  trust  the  Bo'son  in  a 
storm,  no  matter  how  hard  the  gale  blows,  nor  which  way 
the  wind  comes  from." 

"  I  know  I  can,  or  I  shouldn't  have  asked  you  here  to 
listen  to  me.  In  the  first  place,  Frank  Livingston  wants 
to  make  me  his  wife,  and  my  father  and  mother  are 
pleased  with  the  idea,  and  hope  it  will  be  accomplished." 

While  Susie  was  saying  so  much  or  so  little,  the  Bo'son 
had  watched  her  closely,  put  his  hat  on  and  taken  it  off 
twice,  had  his  whistle  a  number  of  times  in  and  out  of 
his  mouth,  which  didn't  in  the  least  disturb  his  companion. 
After  thinking  for  a  moment,  he  said  : 

"  Who  is  Frank  Livingston,  and  what  is  he  ?  Do  you 
love  him,  and  want  to  be  his  wife  ?  " 

Susie  had  undergone  a  change ;  the  ice  was  broken, 
and  she  could  speak  freely,  notwithstanding  that  her  own 
feelings,  and  the  wishes  of  her  parents,  were  so  opposed, 
and  that  she  knew  they  could  not  be  reconciled.  She 
answered : 

"Frank  Livingston  is  a  gentleman  of  family,  and  of 
fortune ;  an  orphan,  left  with  more  money  than  he  knows 
how  to  use ;  is  highly  educated,  and  moves  in  the  first 
circles  in  the  city.  He  is  handsome  in  person,  polished  in 
manners,  lives  in  fine  style,  keeps  plenty  of  servants, 
horses  and  carriages,  is  very  welcome  wherever  he  goes, 
and  is  just  such  a  man  as  most  any  young  woman  would 
love  and  like  to  marry." 

"  You  have  told  me,"  said  the  Bo'son,  "  who  and  what 
he  is  ;  but  you  have  not  told  me  if  you  love  him,  and  wish 
to  be  his  wife." 


AND  BILL,  ffjrs  BO  'SON.  75 

"  No,  Bo'son  ;  I  do  not  love  him,  and  will  not  be  his  wife, 
unless  I  am  forced  to  marry  him,"  was  Susie's  answer. 

"  Why  can't  you  love  such  a  man,  and  who  will  force 
you  to  marry  him  against  your  will  ?  "  asked  the  Bo'son. 

"  I  cannot  love  him,  because  he  is  not  worthy  of  my 
love  ;  he  has  no  heart,  or  no  such  heart  as  would  be  a 
fair  exchange  for  mine.  His  wealth  may  leave  him,  and 
when  it  does,  he  will  have  nothing  to  fall  back  on ;  will 
be  wretched  himself,  and  make  all  around  him  equally  so. 
He  is  a  gambler,  and  loves  wine.  So  anxious,  and  so 
earnest  are  my  parents  that  I  should  marry  into  some 
old  and  rich  family,  that  they  are  willing  to  overlook  all 
little  irregularities  of  conduct,  and  seem  to  consider  fam 
ily  connections  and  riches  a  fair  equivalent  for  every  vir 
tue  and  noble  quality  of  the  heart ;  and  for  my  good,  as 
they  believe,  they  would,  if  necessary  to  accomplish  it, 
force  me  into  a  marriage  with  Mr.  Livingston.  Do  not, 
Bo'son,  for  a  moment  think  that  my  father  or  my  mother 
have  any  object  at  heart  but  my  good  ;  they  do  love  me 
dearly,  but  in  judgment  they  are  at  fault,  and  are  so  de 
termined  that  it  will  be  difficult  to  change  them  ;  and  now 
what  is  your  advice  ?  " 

The  Bo'son  thought  earnestly  for  a  few  minutes,  and 
then  said : 

"Susan,  you  can't  be  forced  to  marry  a  man  you 
don't  love;  to  stop  it,  we'll  'call  all  hands.'  You  have 
told  me  enough  to  satisfy  me  what  sort  of  a  man  Living 
ston  is,  and  that  you  will  never  be  his  wife.  It  is  better 
to  fight  than  run  from  an  enemy  that  you  must  meet 
again.  Let  Frank  Livingston  ask  you  to  be  his  wife,  and 
then  tell  him  no ;  and  if  he  persists,  and  your  parents 
back  him,  we'll  find  means  enough  to  more  than  match 
him,  no  matter  what  course  he  steers.  Have  you  told  the 
captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  about  it  ? " 

"  No,  Bill,  I  have  not ;  I  wanted  to  talk  with  you  first, 
and  have  you  tell  me  what  to  do  in  the  matter." 

"  Nothing,"  said  the  Bo'son,  "  can  be  done  by  you  until 
Livingston  fires  his  first  shot.  Then  it  will  be  time  to 
reply.  It  is  well  enough  to  load  our  guns,  and  '  call  the 
men  to  quarters.'  You  need  have  no  fears,  Beauty  j  we 


76  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

are  too  many  for  'em.  There  is,  in  first  place,  the  cap 
tain  and  Mrs.  Waters,  and  I  would  just  like  to  see  the 
chap  with  guns  enough  to  take  'black-eyed  Susan  '  from 
their  '  convoy ; '  and  then  there  is  Lizzie,  and  she  mounts 
a  heavy  battery  in  a  good  cause;  the  steward,  the  old 
Bo'son,  and  the  dog;  either  of  them  a  fair  match  ford 
common  man,  but  when  acting  all  together,  they  can 
prevent  any  mischief  intended  for  you.  When  the  cap 
tain  finds  out  what  is  in  the  wind,  they'll  all  have  to  look 
sharp.  You  just  lie  quiet  at  anchor,  as  you  are  now  in  a 
good  harbor,  and  wait  until  Livingston  '  hails '  you,  and 
then  shape  your  course.  " 

"  Bill,  it  is  not  every  young  girl  who  could  fully  under 
stand  you,  but  I  do,  and  thank  you  for  what  you  have 
said.  It  has  taken  a  heavy  load  from  my  heart,  believ 
ing,  as  I  now  do,  that  my  grand-parents  will  help  me  better 
than  I  can  help  myself.  When  the  time  comes  I  will  tell 
them  all." 

"Now  you  are  all  righc  yourself;  tell  me,  little  singing 
bird,  about  Julia  Fizzlebob." 

"  Bo'son,  why  do  you  rail  her  Fizzlebob  ?  that  is  not 
her  name." 

"  It  is  as  near  it  as  I  can  get ;  but  tell  me  about  her," 
said  the  Bo'son. 

"  Julia  has  not  changed  in  any  way,  unless  it  is  to  be 
more  in  haste  than  formerly  to  be  married  to  a  rich  man. 
She  wants  Livingston,  and  I  think  Frank  would  marry 
her  but  for  me,  and  may  do  so  when  he  finds  there  is  no 
hope  of  Susie  Morton  ever  being  Mrs.  Livingston.  Strange 
as  Julia  may  appear  to  some,  I  love  her  too  much  to  wish 
her  the  wife  of  Frank  Livingston  Julia  is  vain  and  fool 
ish  in  some  things,  but  has  a  good  heart." 

"  A  good  heart  is  a  good  thing,  but  it  wants  a  head  to 
steer  by  to  reach  a  safe  port,"  was  Bill's  reply. 

"  Now,  Bo'son,"  said  the  fair  one,  "  we  have  been  from 
home  some  time,  and  I  have  told  you  a  long  story 
about  myself,  and  when  the  time  comes  you  can  help 
me — you  have  now  helped  me  by  telling  me  how  to  act. 
In  a  week  or  so  Frank  and  Julia  will  be  here,  and  after 
that  cometh  other  things,  to  be  seen  and  talked  of,  and  I 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON  77 

may  just  as  well  tell  you  some  of  them  now  as  at  another 
time:  Livingston  will  be  trying  to  win  and  marry  Susie; 
Julia  will  be  trying  to  win  and  have  Livingston  to  marry 
her;  Livingston  will  be  in  no  doubt  at  first,  and  when  re 
fused,  will  be  vexed,  and  believe,  with  the  assistance  of 
my  father  and  mother,  that  in  the  end  he  will  succeed. 
Julia  will  believe  at  first  that  I  am  anxious  to  marry  Mr. 
Livingston,  and  she  will  be  vexed,  and  when  she  finds  to 
the  contrary,  will  love  me  more  because  I  love  Frank 
less,  and  her  hopes  will  be  brightened  and  her  prospects 
increased." 

The  Bo'son  was  pleased  and  amused  to  hear  Susie  talk 
again  like  herself,  and  felt  that  he  didn't  care  much  what 
course  Frank  and  Julia  steered,  if  they  only  kept  clear  of 
Susie.  He  said: 

"  Julia  Fizzlebob  would  be  just  the  kind  of  a  wife  for 
such  a  man,  and  Livingston  would  be  just  the  kind  of  a 
husband  to  suit  Julia;  I  wish  they  may  have  each  other, 
and  from  what  you  say,  like  enough  they  may.  When 
they  are  married  I'll  fire  a  salute." 

"  Now,  Bo'son,"  said  Susie,  "  let  us  gather  some  flowers 
and  go  to  the  house." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

MRS.  GOODWIN  VISITS  THE  WATERS*  FARM. 

WELCOME  Goodwin  being  called  from  home  before 
he  found  an  opportunity  of  seeing  Captain  Waters 
and  his  family  at  their  home,  and  Mrs.  Goodwin  learning 
that  the  family  was  settled,  considered  that  it  was  a 
friendly  duty  to  visit  their  new  neighbors. 

Mrs.  Waters  received  her  visitor  with  kindness  and  great 
cordiality,  and  after  they  had  sat  and  conversed  for  a  time 
together,  Mrs.  Waters  ask  her  if  she  would  like  to  see  the 
house  and  its  arrangements.  Receiving  an  affirmative 
answer,  the  two  started  on  a  tour  of  inspection. 

There  is  no  woman  who  has,  and  loves  a  home,  but  feels 


7g  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

a  pleasure  in  making  it  comfortable  for  her  husband  and 
family;  no  matter  how  humble  that  home  may  be,  she  will 
be  proud  of  it,  and  happy  in  showing  it  to  her  friends. 
With  such  a  home  as  Mrs.  Waters  had,  containing  all  that 
could  make  it  dear  and  desirable,  such  a  home  as  she 
had  long  wanted,  but  not  before  possessed,  where  she 
expected  to  spend  with  her  husband  her  remaining  days, 
and  where  she  hoped  to  receive  and  enjoy  the  society  of 
her  children  and  grandchildren,  it  was  only  natural  for 
her  to  feel  a  pleasure  in  showing  visitors  through  the 
house. 

Notwithstanding  Mrs.  Waters  had  spent  many  years  at 
sea  with  her  husband,  in  doing  so  she  had  also  visited  all 
the  principal  ports  of  the  world,  had  freely  mingled  in 
the  highest  circles  of  society,  and  was  herself  an  educated 
and  accomplished  lady.  It  was  true  that  when  she  and 
Captain  Waters  were  by  themselves,  they  often  used  a 
language  belonging  as  much  to  the  ocean  as  to  the  land; 
but  when  in  the  society  of  others,  that  was  dropped  by 
Mrs.  Waters,  and  nothing  appeared  in  her  language  and 
manner  but  that  of  an  accomplished  lady.  No  one  could 
be  long  in  her  society  without  discovering  that  she  was  a 
person  of  superior  mind,  and  of  refined  manner,  and  Mrs. 
Goodwin  didn't  fail  to  fully  comprehend  it. 

Mrs.  Waters  and  Mrs.  Goodwin  passed  from  the  sitting- 
room  to  the  parlors,  that  were  fitted  up  in  what  appeared 
to  the  visitor  to  be  Oriental  splendor.  The  carpets,  cur 
tains,  mirrors  and  furniture,  were  all  new  of  themselves, 
and  new  in  style  to  that  part  of  the  country. 

Mrs.  Goodwin  asked  :  "  Hast  thou  been  much  in  the 
company  of  those  who  worship  with  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  speak  the  plain  language  of  the  Scriptures  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  much  in  their  company,  both  in  this 
country  and  in  England,  and  have  had  them  as  passen 
gers  in  crossing  the  ocean.  I  fully  understand  their  cus 
toms  and  their  language,"  was  Mrs.  Waters'  answer. 

"  I  am  glad  that  such  is  the  case,  because  we  shall  fully 
understand  each  other,"  said  the  visitor. 

Mrs.  Waters  added  :  "  I  am  also  aware  that  members 
of  yoM.r  society  are  not  pleased  where  others,  not  of  the 


AND  BILz,  tfIS  BO'SON.  79 

society,  attempt  to  use  their  language  in  conversation 
with  them." 

"  That  is  very  true,  friend  Waters;  it  is  best  for  us  all  to 
speak  the  language  that  we  are  accustomed  to  use.  How 
beautiful  all  these  thing  are,  and  how  neat  they  look  ?  It 
requires  money  to  buy  them,  and  time  to  keep  them  in 
order,  which  farmers  and  their  families  do  not  all  have, 
or  I  have  no  doubt  some  of  them  would  gratify  themselves, 
and  enjoy  the  gratification  of  having  such  handsome  and 
costly  things." 

.Mrs.  Waters  could  offer  no  reply  to  the  last  remarks  of 
her  visitor,  but  calling  her  attention  to  some  Chinese  orna 
ments  on  the  mantles,  asked  if  she  had  ever  seen  any  like 
them? 

"  I  have  not;  where  did  they  come  from  ? " 

"  We  obtained  them  all  in  China,  when  we  were  last 
there,  and  also  many  other  things  that  are  very  useful  in 
housekeeping." 

"  Thou  and  thy  husband  have  had  many  opportunities 
of  seeing  the  world,  and  of  procuring  articles  useful  and 
ornamental  in  housekeeping." 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Goodwin  ;  for  forty  years  we  have  been 
sailing  the  ocean,  and  visiting  other  parts  of  the  world, 
not  always  together,  for  our  children  sometimes  kept  me 
at  home,  but  for  the  last  twenty  years  I  have  made  every 
voyage  with  him." 

"  It  is  not  then  strange  that  you  have  so  many  beautiful 
and  costly  things." 

"  During  the  last  seven  years,"  said  Mrs.  Waters,  "  we 
lave  been  preparing  to  settle  on  shore  and  furnish  a  house, 
and  consequently  have  purchased,  in  different  parts  of  the 
world,  whatever  we  thought  would  be  useful ;  but  let  us 
pass  to  other  parts  of  the  house." 

They  passed  from  the  parlors  to  the  kitchen,  where 
Mrs.  Goodwin  was  more  astonished  than  she  had  been  in 
the  parlors.  The  old  steward  was  there,  dressed  so  neat 
and  clean,  with  a  white  linen  apron  on,  and  every  part  of 
the  kitchen  was  equally  clean ;  the  copper  sauce  and  stew 
pans  scoured,  and  turned  bottom  up  on  a  shelf  used  for 
no  other  purpose,  the  tin-ware  equally  bright,  and  such  a 


8o  CAP  T A  IK  WArzRS 

quantity  of  it,  as  well  as  of  copper  and  iron  cooking  ves 
sels,  and  of  everything  that  could  be  made  useful,  that  they 
and  the  cooking-range  (the  first  one  used  in  that  part  of 
the  country)  were  well  calculated  to  astonish.  Mrs. 
Waters  introduced  the  steward,  who  was  very  polite  to  the 
visitor,  and  showed  her  the  pantries  and  store-room, 
with  all  that  they  contained,  which  pleased  and  called 
forth  expressions  of  delight  from  Mrs.  Goodwin.  Mrs. 
Waters  then  led  the  way  to  the  milk-room,  where  Lizzie 
was  found,  not  at  work,  but  just  looking  to  see  if  anything 
needed  attention.  What  was  seen  in  the  milk-room  was 
equally  satisfactory,  and  then  Lizzie  was  introduced,  and 
there  was  seen  the  Bo'son's  "  butter  pump,"  considered  by 
the  visitor  as  a  great  improvement  on  the  old  plan  of 
churning,  and  also  a  great  curiosity.  The  sleeping  apart 
ments  on  the  second  floor  were  visited,  and  the  furniture, 
much  or  nearly  all  of  it  having  been  made  in  foreign 
countries,  called  out  additional  expressions  of  admira 
tion. 

After  Mrs.  Goodwin  had  seen  the  whole  house,  sne  was 
preparing  to  leave,  when  she  was  invited  to  remain,  and 
with  the  family  take  tea,  which  invitation  was  accepted. 

Soon  after  returning  to  the  sitting-room,  Susie  made 
her  appearance,  a  little  browned  with  the  sun,  but  look 
ing  as  bright  and  as  blooming  as  a  young  lady  possibly 
could  look.  Mrs.  Waters  presented  her,  and  said  : 

"  She  is  the  wildest  and  merriest  girl,  I  think,  that  can 
be  found  in  the  country.  Susie  and  the  old  Bo'son  are 
as  much  together  as  they  can  be  ;  sometimes  I  fear  that 
there  is  a  love-match  between  them,  only  I  have  thought 
the  Bo'son  had  another  attachment.  How  is  it,  Susie; 
are  you  in  love  with  the  Bo'son  ? " 

"  Yes.  grandma,  I  am  in  love  with  Bill  Thomas  the 
Bo'son,  and  have  been  for  many  years  ;  but  not  the  kind 
of  love  that  leads  to  marriage.  If  I  do  marry,  I  hope  I 
may  have  as  good  a  man." 

"  So  do  I,  pet ;  the  Bo'son  is  a  good  and  true  man," 
said  Mrs.  Waters. 

Mrs.  Goodwin  asked,  "Will  I  be  likely  to  see  that 
Bo'son  I  have  heard  so  much  about  ?  " 


AND  BILL^  HIS  BO  'SOtf.  8  ! 

Susie  answered,  and  said,  "  Yes,  he  will  be  at  the  house 
soon." 

The  three  spent  a  pleasant  hour  in  conversation,  when 
the  captain  arrived  from  the  field,  and  joined  the  party, 
and  soon  they  were  summoned  to  tea. 

The  captain  talked  for  a  while  with  Mrs.  Goodwin, 
joined  occasionally  by  his  wife  and  Susie,  and  they  were 
all  three  pleased  with  the  plain,  practical,  good  common 
sense  and  knowledge  of  things  exhibited  by  Mrs. 
Goodwin. 

After  a  time,  the  captain  said :  "  So,  Sue,  what  have 
you  and  the  Bo'son  been  doing  this  afternoon  ?  You  two 
and  the  dog  ought  to  be  together  on  some  desolate  and 
uninhabited  island,  and  then  you  would  be  happy." 

"  In  that  event,  grandpa,  you  would  desert  the  farm, 
buy  a  ship,  and  sail  around  the  world,  navigating  every 
ocean  and  sea,  until  you  found  and  rescued  us.  Grandma 
would  go  with  .you,  for  you  would  both  be  unhappy  with 
out  us." 

"I  know  it,  I  know  it,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  I  couldn't 
spare  the  Bo'son  and  dog." 

"Nor  the  Bo'son's  black-eyed  Susan,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  let  it  be  so ;  I'll  own  up,  pet." 

At  the  table  Mrs.  Goodwin  praised  the  food,  and  it 
was  worthy  of  praise. 

Mrs.  Waters  told  the  visitor  that  "  the  steward  must 
have  all  the  praise,  for  he  had  made  and  cooked  all 
that  is  on  the  table.  Lizzie  and  myself  have  been  so 
engaged  for  the  last  week,  that  we  have  had  to  leave 
all  to  him." 

Mrs.  Goodwin  had  made  up  her  mind  not  to  be  again 
astonished  while  at  the  house  ;  but  this  came  very  near 
it.  The  steward,  when  he  came  into  the  room,  would 
pass  around  the  table  so  quietly,  and  hand  things  so 
gently,  that  she  thought  him  very  convenient,  and  that 
he  acted  more  like  a  gentleman  than  like  a  waiter.  She 
also  observed  that  he  and  Lizzie  were  spoken  kindly 
to  by  all. 

When  the  steward  was  out  of  the  room,  Mrs.  Goodwin 
said: 


8a  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  Seeing  that  you  are  so  kind  to  those  whom  you  have 
brought  with  you,  I  wonder  that  you  do  not  all  eat  at 
the  same  table,  as  is  our  custom." 

The  captain  answered,  "It  is  not  our  custom,  and  that 
prevents  it.  The  Bo'son  has  been  with  us  twenty-seven 
years,  the  others  over  twenty  years.  We  have  always  sat 
at  different  tables,  We  cannot  change.  None  of  us 
wish  to." 

After  tea,  the  Bo'son  was  called  in,  and  the  lady  had 
quite  a  lengthy  talk  with  him,  and  said  that  Welcome, 
her  husband,  had  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  see  and 
talk  with  him  also. 

"  I  remember  him,"  said  the  Bo'son.  "  He  called  me 
William,  and  thought  that  was  my  name." 

Bill  asked  Mrs.  Goodwin  to  visit  the  midship-house, 
for,  like  his  mistress,  he  wished  his  house  to  be  seen,  and 
possibly  to  be  admired. 

The  invitation  was  accepted,  and  all  three  of  the  ladies, 
escorted  by  the  captain,  went  to  the  Bo'son 's  midship- 
house.  In  that  house  were  things  that  Mrs.  Goodwin  had 
never  seen  before,  and  did  not  know  the  use  of;  but  all 
was  so  neatly  arranged,  that  she  was  much  interested,  and 
separated  from  the  Waters  family,  entertaining  nothing 
but  kindly  feelings  towards  them,  that  she  felt  would  ripen 
into  mutual  friendship. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

MRS.  GOODWIN  VISITS  MRS.  MOORES*. 

IN  a  rural  neighborhood,  occupied  by  plain  and  honest 
farmers,  mostly  belonging  to  or  worshiping  with  the  re 
ligious  society  of  Friends,  which  was  the  case  in  that  part, 
of  the  country  into  which  Captain  Waters  had  moved,  it 
was  very  natural  for  the  people  to  be  interested  in  all  that 
related  to  new  comers.  The  new  neighbors  differed  so 
materially  from  the  old  residents,  in  habits,  customs, 
and  mode  of  fanning  and  living,  that  a  deeper  and  more 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  83 

lively  interest  was  felt  in  all  their  sayings  and  doings  than 
was  usual. 

It  was  very  generally  believed  that  Captain  Waters  had 
at  his  command  all  the  money  he  might  wish  to  use,  and 
consulted  only  his  taste  and  desire  in  the  amount  that  he 
expended. 

It  was  evident  to  the  farmers  around  him,  that  the  cap 
tain  did  not  expect  the  farm  to  support  him  ;  or,  if  he  did, 
he  would  be  doomed  to  a  very  sad  disappointment. 
Things  were  too  nice, — too  much  time  was  used  in  keeping 
them  so,  and  there  was  too  much  hired  help,  for  any 
profit  to  be  realized,  was  the  general  opinion  expressed 
by  all.  Some  of  the  neighbors,  in  their  sincere  desires 
for  the  good  of  the  captain  and  his  family,  and  without 
wishing  in  the  least  to  interfere,  had  ventured  some  sug 
gestions  on  the  subject  of  farming  at  less  expense,  but 
found  that  the  captain  very  respectfully  declined  all 
advice.  It  was  very  hard  for  so  many  well-disposed 
neighbors  to  witness  such  extravagance,  and  have  no 
means  of  preventing  it,  when  they  would  have  gladly 
done  so. 

All  of  the  neighbors  freely  admitted  that  the  captain 
and  his  family  were  kind  and  courteous  to  all ;  that  none 
of  them  seemed  "  stuck  up,"  or  thought  themselves  better 
than  other  folks ;  "  but  why  can't  they  be  advised  for 
their  own  good  ?  "  was  frequently  asked. 

There  can  be  found  in  every  community,  individuals 
perfectly  willing  to  aid  their  neighbors  with  any  quantity 
of  good  advice,  always  having  it  on  hand,  some  of  which 
was  received  from  others,  and  never  used. 

The  day  after  Mrs.  Goodwin  was  a't  the  Waters'  farm, 
and  took  tea  with  the  family,  she  called  on  Anna  Moores, 
the  wife  of  a  farmer  living  in  the  neighborhood.  Anna  had 
not  received  a  very  liberal  education,  was  not  in  early  life 
among  Friends,  but  had  been  received  into  that  society 
"  by  request,"  and  afterwards  married  one  of  its  mem 
bers.  Anna  possessed  some  peculiarities,  and  among 
them  was  an  indifference  about  personal  appearance,  and 
a  fixed  determination  not  to  waste  time  in  cleaning,  scrub 
bing,  sweeping,  and  dusting  her  house.  She  was  a  great; 


84  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

snuff-taker,  often  saying  that  she  could  do  very  well  with 
two  meals  a  day,  but  not  without  snuff. 

Mrs.  Goodwin  found  Anna  in  the  kitchen,  it  being  her 
baking  day.  The  kitchen  looked  very  different  from  the  one 
she  visited  the  day  before,  at  the  house  of  Captain  Waters. 
There  was  nothing  bright  in  or  about  Anna's  kitchen. 
The  tin  baking  pans  were  as  black  as  the  stove  in  which 
they  were  used,  and  that  article  appeared  not  to  have  been 
cleaned  or  blacked  since  it  left  the  foundry  where  it  was 
cast.  The  floor,  that  wore  no  appearance  of  having  of 
late  been  scrubbed,  or  even  swept,  was  partially  covered 
with  tubs,  pails  for  both  water  and  milking,  wood,  arti 
cles  of  children's  clothing,  men's  boots,  women's  and 
children's  well-worn  shoes,  and  a  few  used-up  chairs, 
some  with  wooden  and  some  with  flag-bottoms.  There 
were  two  large  pine  tables  in  the  kitchen,  the  tops 
of  which,  like  the  floor,  gave  no  evidence  of  a  recent 
scrubbing,  and  on  one  of  the  tables  were  many  unwashed 
dishes,  such  as  are  used  at  family  meals,  and  hung  up 
around  the  room  were  articles  of  men's  and  women's 
clothing,  old  hats,  bridles,  halters,  whips,  an  old  white 
wash  brush,  and  a  tin  dinner -horn.  The  other  table 
was  occupied  with  what  Anna  was  preparing  to  bake,  and 
the  dishes  to  be  used  in  baking.  Anna  had  in  some  way 
managed  to  get  inside  of  some  articles  of  dress,  and 
among  them  a  pair  of  blue-yarn  stockings ;  the  tops  of 
which  were  not  exactly  in  their  places,  nor  were  the  heels 
of  her  shoes. 

For  want  of  time,  or  some  other  cause,  she  wore  her 
dress  so  loosely  that  it  was  difficult  to  -tell  whether  it  was 
originally  intended  to  button  at  the  back,  or  pin  in  front. 
Her  hair  was  done  up  at  the  back,  with  a  small  comb  and 
large  string;  and  to  complete  her  apparel,  she  wore  a 
large  tow-cloth  apron,  of  chocolate  color,  made  so  by 
snuff,  grease,  dust,  and  other  coloring  matters  that  it  had 
encountered.  The  two  half-dressed,  unwashed  children, 
aged  four  and  two  years,  were  unsatisfactorily  mixed  up 
with  other  articles  about  the  kitchen  floor,  and  in  various 
ways  and  tones  expressed  their  dissent. 

Anna  saw  Mrs.  Goodwin  as  she  approached  the  house, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SOtf.  $5 

and  met  her  at  the  door,  giving  her  a  kindly  welcome,  and 
saying  : 

"  Thee  must  come  right  into  the  kitchen,  for  I  am  bak 
ing  to-day." 

Anna  led  the  way  to  the  kitchen,  followed  by  Ruth 
Goodwin,  and  when  there,  Anna  shoved  a  tub  out  of  the 
way  with  one  foot,  and  a  pail  out  of  the  way  with  the 
other — she  took  a  wooden  bottom  chair,  and  after  wiping 
it  with  the  chocolate  colored  apron,  said  : 

"  There,  Ruth ;  thee  can  sit  down  there  and  not  dirt  thy 
dress.  How  glad  I  am  to  see  thee  ;  I  have  been  hoping 
that  thee  would  call,  but  didn't  look  for  thee  to-day,  as  it 
is  thy  baking  day  as  well  as  mine." 

Anna  having  said  this  much,  took  a  large  pinch  of  snuff, 
and  wiped  her  thumb  and  finger  on  the  chocolate  apron, 
blowing  her  nose  immediately  afterwards  on  the  same  ar 
ticle. 

Mrs.  Goodwin  replied  :  "  It  is  my  baking  day,  but  I  al 
ways  bake  in  the  forenoon,  and  thought  that  thou  wouldst 
have  also  been  done  with  baking." 

"I  am  later  to-day  than  usual,"  said  Anna.  "  I  took  up 
Dicksons'  All  of  a  Twist,  after  breakfast,  and  the  story  so 
interested  me  that  I  finished  it  before  I  laid  it  down." 

"  I  think  that  thou  must  mean  Dickens'  last  work,  Oliver 
Twist  ?  " 

"  That  was  it,  Ruth ;  I  recollect  now  thee  speaks  the 
name,  but  I  think  so  much  about  a  story  that  I  always 
forget  all  the  names.  O  !  how  that  dear  little  boy  suffered, 
and  all  because  his  mother  died  ?  " 

"  Thou  hast  no  idea  that  there  is  any  truth  in  that 
story  ?  " 

"  Why,  certainly,  it  must  have  been  true,  or  it  wouldn't 
have  been  put  in  the  book,"  was  Anna's  answer. 

"  Now  let  me  tell  thee,  Anna  Moores,  that  those  stones 
are  all  made  up,  and  when  a  farmer's  wife  leaves  her  bak 
ing  until  afternoon,  to  read  one  of  them  in  the  forenoon, 
the  time  is  very  poorly  spent.  They  are  well  enough  for 
leisure  hours  and  evenings,  but  not  for  mornings  in  a  farm 
house." 

Anna  took  a  large  pinch  of  snuff,  wiped  her  fingers  and 


3,5  CAPTAItf  WATERS 

nose  on  the  apron,  and  commenced  mixing  her  bread. 
When  the  bread  was  partially  mixed,  she  took  her  hands 
out  of  it,  worked  the  soft  dough  from  her  hands,  took  a 
pinch  of  snuff,  wiped  her  fingers  and  nose  again,  and  went 
on  with  the  bread  mixing,  saying  at  the  same  time  : 

"Has  thee  seen  or  heard  directly  from  the  Waters' 
lately  ? " 

"  Yes  ;  I  was  there  yesterday  afternoon,  went  all  over 
the  house,  saw  all  that  was  in  it,  was  made  acquainted 
with  the  steward,  Lizzie,  the  old  Bo'son,  and  his  wonder 
ful  dog.  The  house  is  beautiful,  and  so  are  many  of  the 
things  in  it.  The  kitchen  is  a  model  one,  with  every  con 
venience  desired,  and  the  steward,  who  has  charge  of  it,  is 
a  pattern  of  neatness  and  order.  The  milk-room,  and  in 
deed  every  part  of  the  house,  are  perfect  and  in  order.  I 
staid  and  had  tea  with  them,  and  such  bread  and  cake  I 
have  not  often  partaken  of,  and  it  was  all  made  by  the 
steward." 

Anna  had  finished  her  bread,  and  when  Mrs.  Goodwin 
had  done  speaking,  she  walked  to  her  and  said  : 

"  Did  thee  eat  bread  and  cake  made  by  a  man  ?  I 
couldn't  have  done  it,  I  should  have  been  afraid  of  being 
4  pisened  '  with  nastiness.  I  am  very  particular  about 
what  I  eat  and  who  cooks  it." 

Anna  took  a  pinch  of  snuff,  wiped  on  the  apron,  and 
began  to  put  her  bread  in  the  pans  to  bake,  saying  as  she 
did  so : 

"  I  use  self-rising  flour,  because  it  saves  time  and  work, 
and  can  be  put  in  the  pans  to  bake  right  away  after  it  is 
made,  and  I  don't  have  to  get  the  dough  off  my  fingers, 
and  then  get  it  on  again." 

"  I  don't  know  how  much  dirt  it  would  take  to  poison 
thee,  but  it  must  be  a  very  small  quantity,  if  it  could  be 
found  in  any  part  of  the  house  of  our  new  neighbors." 

"  Well,  Ruth  Goodwin,  I  can  tell  thee  that  I  hate  nasti 
ness  above  all  things  in  this  world,  and  as  for  eating  any 
thing  that  a  dirty  man  had  cooked,  I  know  I  should  die 
first, — I  couldn't  anyways  do  it." 

Anna  again  took  snuff,  and  again  used  the  apron,  at 
the  same  time  saying: 


AND  BILL,  tiis  jso'sotf.  §7 

"  Thee  is  now  here,  Ruth,  and  never  having  taken  tea 
with  me,  I  want  thee  should  stay  and  take  tea  with  me 
this  afternoon.  I  am  going  to  make  some  cake  and  some 
gingerbread  before  I  wash  my  hands  of  this  dough,  and 
we  will  have  a  nice  supper,  that  thee  can  eat  with  a  good 
heart,  knowing  that  everything  is  clean." 

Then  Anna  took  snuff,  and  used  the  apron. 

Mrs.  Goodwin  thought  that  she  would  need  a  good, 
stout  heart,  to  eat  what  she  had  seen  cooked,  notwith 
standing  Anna's  hatred  of  nastiness,  and  so  she  declined, 
saying: 

"  It  is  not  well  to  be  two  days  in  succession  from  home 
at  tea-time,  and  I  am  hoping  that  Welcome  may  return 
this  afternoon  from  Yearly  Meeting." 

"  If  thee  can't  stay  to  tea,  tell  me  more  a,bout  the 
Waters'  before  thee  goes." 

"  Anna,  they  are  a  nice,  pleasant  family,  every  one  of 
them,  and  that  steward  is  a  jewel  in  a  kitchen,  and 
looks  and  acts  more  like  a  gentleman  than  like  a  cook. 
He  was  dressed  yesterday  with  brown  pants  and  vest, 
white  shirt,  cravat  and  stockings;  his  shoes  shone  like 
polished  black  marble,  and  he  had  on  a  white  linen  apron 
and  jacket  when  he  waited  on  the  table." 

"Well,  I  do  say  for  it,  how  funny;  then  they  don't  all 
eat  at  the  same  table  ?  " 

"  No;  the  Captain  and  his  family  eat  at  one  table,  the 
steward,  Bo'son  and  Lizzie  at  another;  all  of  the  farm 
hands  live  in  the  other  house,  with  the  farmer." 

"  Are  the  people  that  they  brought  with  them  from 
New  York  willing  to  live  with  the  family,  and  not  eat  at 
the  same  table  ?"  asked  Anna. 

"  Certainly  they  are,  and  have  done  so  for  more  than 
twenty  years,"  was  the  answer. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  the  house  and  all  the  things,"  said 
Anna. 

"  Go  there,  then;  but,  Anna,  let  me  kindly  say  to  thee, 
not  to  read  such  books  as  thou  hast  been  reading  to-day; 
rise  early  every  morning  when  in  health,  and  when  thou 
dost  visit  the  Waters',  take  time  to  wash  and  dress  thyself 
first" 


88  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Anna  received  what  was  said,  as  it  was  intended,  kindly, 
and  to  say  it,  was  the  object  of  that  visit  by  Mrs.  Goodwin. 

We  would  not  have  our  readers  understand  that  Anna 
Moores  is  a  representative  character  among  the  society  of 
Friends  (sometimes  called  Quakers),  for  she  is  not.  In 
that  religious  society,  all,  or  nearly  all,  are  noted  for 
cleanliness  in  their  houses  and  about  their  persons.  The 
contrary  is  the  exception,  not  the  rule.  Anna  had  not 
been  brought  up  and  educated  among  Friends,  and  re 
flects  no  discredit  on  the  society  for  being  what  she  is. 
Her  heart  was  all  right,  but  she  "  needed  to  carry  a  little 
more  sail,  and  have  a  head  to  steer  by/'  as  the  Bo 'son 
would  say. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  BO'SON  SOAKS  THE  BUTTS  OUT  OF  A  RAM. 

THE  Bo'son,  after  assisting  in  the  repairs  and  improve 
ments,  in  and  about  the  house,  and  having  arranged 
his  own  apartments  to  suit  him,  had  turned  his  whole  at 
tention  to  farming  matters,  determined  to  learn  how  to 
do  whatever  was  to  be  done ;  and  being  ready  and 
willing,  he  learned  very  fast. 

One  of  the  first  things  that  he  desired  knowledge  of 
was  milking.  He  thought  that  he  could  milk,  when  he 
first  arrived  at  the  farm.  He  tried,  and  didn't  succeed. 
Under  the  teachings  of  the  young  man  (assistant  farmer), 
Bill  had  become  a  good  milker,  and  he  told  the  captain, 
when  he  returned  from  New  York,  all  about  it,  saying: 

"  Captain  Waters,  the  Bo'son  can  rig  and  work  the  cow- 
pump,  and  discharge  a  whole  cargo  of  milk  without  any 
accidents." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  Bo'son.  How  about  salting 
sheep  ?" 

"  The  Bo'son  hasn't  tried  that  but  once,  sir  ;  and  then 
he  was  struck  with  a  squall,  and  knocked  on  his  beam- 
ends,"  was  Bill's  answer. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SON.  89 

"  I  think,  Bo'son,  that  you  will  learn  all  about  the  duty 
of  this  ship,  after  a  little  time.  And  how  do  you  like  this 
country  life  ?" 

"  Very  well,  sir.  It  is  easier  than  ship's  duty, — less 
hands  to  work,  and  no  night  watches." 

Captain  Waters  was  just  one  of  the  happiest  men  that 
could  be  found  at  sea  or  on  shore.  He  had  all  that  he 
wanted, — a  good  farm,  well  stocked,  and  around  him,  be 
sides  his  wife,  those  who,  for  many  years,  had  sailed 
under  him.  He  could  ask  for  nothing  more  than  he  pos 
sessed. 

The  Bo'son,  now  that  the  new  ship  was  fully  rigged, 
and  in  perfect  order,  felt  that  all  his  accounts  in  this 
world  were  squared,  excepting  with  the  ram,  that 
"  knocked  him  on  his  beam-ends."  That  account  must 
soon  be  settled. 

His  mind  had  not  been  fully  free  from  the  subject 
since  its  occurrence,  and  he  had  determined  how  to  set 
tle  it. 

He  had  been  down  to  the  river,  and  saw  a  neighbor 
wash  sheep.  He  knew  the  sheep  of  the  farm  were  to  be 
washed  soon,  and  that  would  be  his  time. 

The  Bo'son  had  not  long  to  wait.  A  few  days  later, 
Captain  Waters  gave  orders  for  washing  the  sheep.  When 
they  were  being  driven  to  the  river,  where  they  were  to 
be  washed,  the  Bo'son  followed,  with  the  dog  at  his  side, 
and  there  appeared  to  be  a  perfect  understanding  between 
them,  that  something  unusual  was  about  to  take  place. 

The  captain,  with  his  best  horses,  and  the  every-day 
carriage,  took  Mrs.  Waters,  Susie  and  Lizzie  to  the  river, 
to  see  the  sheep  washed,  as  neither  of  them  had  before 
been  present  on  such  an  interesting  occasion. 

The  Bo'son  had  arranged  with  all  the  men  engaged  in 
washing,  that  none  of  them  should  touch  the  ram  with 
black  legs,  and  that  he  only  should  have  the  handling  of 
that  animal.  It  was  not  the  intention  of  Bill  to  wash 
"butts"  early  in  the  day,  because  he  first  wanted  to  get 
a  little  accustomed  to  sheep-washing. 

Captain  Waters  had  obtained  a  promise  from  the  Bo'son, 
at  the  time  of  his  first  introduction  to  the  ram,  or  directly 


90  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

afterwards,  that  he  would  not  injure  him,  nor  any  other 
animal  on  the  farm,  and  knew  that  he  could  depend  on 
that  promise  ;  but  he  also  knew  the  Bo'son  so  well,  that 
he  expected  some  kind  of  fun,  and  told  the  women  folks 
to  be  on  the  look-out. 

Being  in  the  water  suited  the  Bo'son,  and  he  washed 
more  sheep,  and  washed  them  better,  than  any  of  the  old 
hands,  because  he  regarded  it  as  good  fun.  He  would 
take  a  sheep  on  his  back,  walk  into  the  water,  and  wash 
it  in  less  time  than  any  of  the  other  men.  He  saw  that 
some  of  the  men,  when  they  had  walked  in  up  to  their 
knees,  would  lay  a  sheep  on  his  back,  and  draw  him  into 
deeper  water.  Bill  tried  and  practised  that  mode  of 
getting  sheep  into  deep  water,  with  good  success. 

The  dog  Bose  appeared  to  enjoy  the  sport  as  well  as 
his  master,  never  leaving  him,  but  going  in  and  out  of  the 
water  with  the  Bo'son,  and  watching  all  that  took  place. 

About  noon  the  Bo'son  asked  the  man  in  the  pen  to 
catch  "  butts,"  and  bring  him  to  the  gate.  The  man  did 
so,  and  as  usual  helped  lift  him  to  the  Bo 'son's  shoulder. 
In  the  meantime  the  dog  was  active,  and  ready  to  render 
any  assistance  that  might  be  necessary. 

When  the  Captain  saw  that  the  Bo'son  had  the  ram  with 
black  legs  on  his  shoulder,  he  said  to  his  wife  and  others 
in  the  carriage  : 

"  Now  look  out  for  sport,  the  Bo'son  has  what  he  calls 
'  old  butts '  on  his  shoulder,  the  dog  at  his  side,  and  they 
are  all  going  to  a  watering  place.  Look  at  Bill's  face — 
isn't  it  comic  ?  There  is  fun,  joy  and  satisfaction,  in  every 
feature,  and  if  that  sheep  isn't  well  washed  before  he  comes 
ashore,  then  the  face  of  the  Bo'son  is  not  a  true  index  of 
his  purpose,  and  the  Bo'son  himself  has  changed  his  char 
acter." 

When  the  Bo'son  had  the  sheep  well  on  his  shoulder, 
and  was  moving  towards  the  water,  he  first  addressed  the 
dog,  and  said  to  him  :  "  Now  is  our  time,  Bose."  Bill 
walked  with  the  sheep  on  his  shoulder  a  little  way  into 
the  water,  and  then  let  him  slide  from  the  shoulder,  turn 
ing  him  at  the  same  time  on  his  back,  and  in  that  position 
taking  him  into  deep  water,  saying  : 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO t  SON.  gt 

"  Old  butts,  the  Bo'son  has  you  afloat,  not  in  blue  water, 
but  it  will  answer  just  as  well.  Look  sharp,  old  Bose,  we 
both  owe  him  some,  and  this  is  settling  day.  Let  me  see 
you  butt,  black  legs,  will  you  ?  Ha,  how  do  you  like  that? 
Butt  if  you  like, — do  you  want  more  salt,  and  will  you  sail 
for  Bill's  counter  again  ?  " 

During  this  time  Bill  was  continually  dipping  the  head 
of  the  sheep  under  water,  and  holding  it  as  long  as  it  was 
prudent,  and  washing  him  with  a  will ;  then  again  putting 
his  head  under,  and  when  it  was  above  water  talking  to 
the  sheep,  which  seemed  a  great  satisfaction  to  him. 

"  This,  old  butts,  is  my  play ;  I  know  what  I  am  about 
when  on  the  water,  and  you  can't  get  the  best  of  me.  I 
thought  a  day  would  come  when  I  should  square  that  lit 
tle  unsettled  account,  and  it  has  come.  I  remember  you, 
and  if  you  ever  reach  land  again,  you  will  remember  me  ; 
and  should -you  butt  me  again,  and  I  get  you  afloat,  that 
will  be  the  last  of  you  ;  mind  now  I  tell  you  so." 

The  dipping  and  washing  continued  for  full  half  an 
hour,  and  until  the  Bo'son  discovered  that  the  ram  was 
growing  weak,  when  he  desisted  and  said  : 

"  Bose,  you  hold  him  here  till  I  get  ashore." 

The  dog  took  the  sheep  at  the  side  of  the  neck  and 
held  him  fast.  Had  the  sheep  been  fresh  instead  of  being 
nearly  drowned,  he  would  have  been  no  match  for  the  dog 
in  the  water ;  but  weak  as  he  was,  Bose  found  no  difficulty 
in  keeping  him  afloat,  and  from  approaching  the  shore. 

The  Bo'son  worked  his  way  to  the  shore,  having  the 
same  joyous  and  satisfied  countenance  that  he  left  it  with. 
When  a  little  distance  from  the  edge  of  the  water,  he 
dropped  on  his  hands  and  knees,  in  the  same  position 
that  he  was  when  he  received  the  second  and  succeeding 
butts  from  the  ram,  when  they  first  became  acquainted 
with  each  other ;  he  then  called  to  the  dog  and  said  : 

"  Let  him  come,  Bose,  I  am  ready  for  him." 

The  dog  did  let  him  come,  but  came  also  with  him,  to 
be  ready  for  whatever  might  take  place.  Bill  kept  his 
eye  over  his  shoulder  as  the  ram  neared  the  shore,  which 
he  did  very  slowly,  and  when  on  land  could  scarcely  walk 
from  weakness.  With  his  head  near  the  ground  he 


92  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

passed  the  greatest  possible  distance  from  the  Bo'son,  and 
joined  his  washed  companions. 

Bill  jumped  to  his  feet,  took  off  his  hat,  swung  it  around 
his  head  and  shouted  :  "  Hurrah  !  hurrah  !  hurrah  !  I've 
soaked  all  the  butts  out  of  that  ram." 

Captain  Waters  and  the  ladies  had  watched  the  whole 
proceedings  with  interest,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  it  nearly 
as  much  as  the  Bo'son  did.  The  other  men  that  were 
engaged  in  sheep  washing,  stopped  work  before  the  Bo'son 
finished  washing  "butts,"  and  also  watched  him,  and  lis 
tened  to  what  he  was  saying  to  the  dog  and  the  ram,  as 
all  had  understood  from  Bill  that  the  washing  would  do 
him  good. 

When  Bill  took  off  his  hat,  and  shouted  forth  his  hur 
rahs,  Capta-n  Waters  stood  up  in  his  carriage,  and  did  the 
same.  Mr?  Waters  nodded  to  the  Bo'son,  Susie  shook  first 
her  sunshade,  then  laid  it  on  her  lap,  clapped  her  hands, 
and  laughed  with  unfeigned  joy  ;  Lizzie  took  off  her  sun- 
hat,  and  imitated  the  Bo'son's  motions  with  his,  as  nearly 
as  it  was  possible  for  her  to  do,  and  she  also  made  an 
effort  to  shout  hurrah ! 

Mrs.  Waters  was  the  least  demonstrative  of  any  of  the 
party,  and  yet,  in  some  way,  she  showed  that  she  also  en 
joyed  the  Bo'son's  triumph.  She  said  : 

"  Joseph  Waters,  you  are  almost  as  much  of  a  boy  as 
the  Bo'son." 

"  That's  so,  Nancy ;  but  who  can  help  being  amused  at 
the  odd  doings  of  Bill  Thomas,  the  old  Bo'son  ?  1  couldn't 
get  vexed  with  him  if  I  tried,  and  it  does  my  heart 
good  to  see  him  look  so  satisfied.  I  wouldn't  have 
minded  if  he  had  drowned  the  old  ram,  only  I  knew  there 
was  no  danger,  because  he  is  a  good  judge  of  how  much 
water  it  takes  to  drown  an  animal.  He  said  at  the  time 
the  ram  butted  him,  '  that  he  would  settle  with  him,'  and 
now  he  has  done  it,  and  will  laugh  himself  to  sleep  many 
a  night  thinking  of  it." 

After  a  little  time,  Bill  went  to  the  side  of  the  carriage, 
and  touching  his  hat,  said  : 

"  Captain  Waters  and  ladies  !  the  account  between  the 
Bo'son  and  the  ram  is  settled.  It  has  stood  longer  than 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SON. 


93 


I  generally  let  my  debts  stand,  but  I  was  not  in  a  condi 
tion  to  settle.     All  right  now." 

Bill  again  touched  his  hat  as  he  left,  and  Captain  Wa 
ters  drove  home  with  the  carriage. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

FRANK  AND  JULIA  ARRIVE 

''PHE  long  looked  for  event  of  the  coming  of  Frank 
A  Livingston  and  Julia  Fhzlebaugh  at  length  occurred. 
They  arrived  at  the  farm,  and  were  kindly  received  by 
each  and  every  member  of  the  family. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  hadn't  the  least  idea  that 
Frank  Livingston  visited  the  farm  with  any  other  object 
in  view  than  that  of  spending  a  few  days  in  the  country, 
and  of  being  the  traveling  companion  of  Julia. 

Every  one  present,  and  some  that  were  absent,  had  an 
object  in  view,  and  one  that  they  much  desired  to  obtain, 
and  to  accomplish  it  required  great  tact  and  energy  on  the 
part  of  some  of  them. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters'  only  object  was  to  see  that 
all  enjoyed  themselves,  and  lacked  nothing  that  would 
contribute  to  their  happiness. 

Frank  Livingston's  object  was  to  offer  himself  in  mar 
riage  to  Susie,  and  receive,  as  he  felt  certain  that  he  should, 
a  favorable  answer  ;  and,  after  spending  a  few  days  at  the 
farm,  to  take  up  his  residence  at  Saratoga  Springs,  only 
twelve  miles  distant  from  the  farm,  and  from  there  visit 
his  affianced  wife  frequently,  enjoying  in  her  society  the 
pleasures  and  comforts  of  a  country  life.  Julia  Fizzle- 
baugh's  object  was  to  secure  by  any  possible  means  Frank 
Livingston  for  a  husband,  and  be  to  him  what  he  wished 
to  make  Susie. 

The  father  and  mother  of  Susie  and  Lizzie  were  very 
anxious  for  the  success  of  their  daughters,  and  though 
employing  different  means  to  obtain  it,  had  the  same  ob 
ject  in  view;  but  their  object  was  unknown  to  each  other- 


^  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

The  Bo'son's  object  was  to  be  ready  for  a  severe  en 
gagement,  if  necessary,  to  defend  Susie,  and  prevent  her 
from  being  "  cat  out  of  the  fleet "  by  the  ship  of  an  enemy. 
His  ideas  were  not  very  dear  as  to  what  duties  he  had  to 
perform ;  but  whatever  they  were,  he  intended  to  be  pre 
pared  for  them  by  keeping  a  good  look  out,  and  having 
the  dog  always  at  hand. 

Before  going  up,  Frank  had  sent  some  of  his  horses, 
carriages  and  servants  to  Saratoga  Springs,  that  they 
might  be  ready  there  for  his  use.  He  directed  his  coach 
man  to  meet  him  at  the  cars,  and  take  Julia  and  himself 
to  the  farm,  and  after  arriving  there,  sent  him  to  the 
Springs,  to  return  early  the  next  day,  *ith  a  pair  of  fancy 
horses  and  a  light  buggy  wagon. 

Susie  Morton  and  Julia  Fizziebaugh  retired  to  rest, 
both  occupying  one  room.  It  being  early,  and  they  having 
much  to  say  to  each  other,  they  did  not  immediately  take 
to  their  beds.  Julia  was  the  first  to  speak  of  the  subject 
nearest  her  bean,  and  say  to  her  companion : 

"Susie,  you  don't  know  how  much  I  want  Frank 
Livingston  for  a  husband,  nor  what  lengths  I  would  go  to 
attain  my  object ;  and  I  want  you  to  understand  that  I 
am  fully  aware  that  you  also  want  him  as  a  life-long  com 
panion/* 

u  Cousin  Julia,  I  do  not  want  Frank  for  a  husband,  nor 
shall  I  ever  marry  him.  My  parents  are  anxious  that  I 
should  be  his  wife,  but  that  isn't  a  sufficient  reason  for  me 
to  marry  him." 

u  Has  he  offered  himself  to  you  T  asked  Julia,  her  voice 
trembling  enough  to  betray  her  feelings. 

**  No,"  answered  Susie,  "  he  has  not ;  but  I  presume  he 
will  the  first  opportunity  he  has,  for  I  believe  that  is  his 
object  in  coming  here." 

"  And  shall  you  give  him  a  decided  answer,  declining 
such  an  offer  ?" 

"  I  shall,"  was  Susie's  reply  ;  "  but  he  will  not  be  satis 
fied  with  it,  and  will  seek  the  assistance  of  my  parents 
to  aid  him  in  securing  me  for  his  wife." 

"  Will  your  father  and  mother  give  him  the  required 
assistance  ?"  again  asked  Julia, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON 


95 


"  Yes,"  said  Susie ;  "  they  will,  and  do  all  in  their  power 
to  encourage  him,  and  persuade  me  to  become  his  wife. 
They  would  force  him  upon  me  as  a  husband,  if  they 
could,  believing  it  for  my  good  ;  but  it  will  be  of  no  use." 

"Then  your  mind  is  firmly  made  up,  not  to  be 
altered  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Julia,  on  that  subject  it  is  ;  and  however  much 
my  parents  may  desire  it,  I  cannot  gratify  them  at  the 
expense  of  my  own  happiness ;  and  besides,  they  do  not 
know  him  as  I  do,  or  they  would  not  wish  him  to  be  my 
husband.'' 

Julia  fetched  a  long  breath,  as  if  relieved  of  a  heavy 
burden,  that  had  rested  on  her  mind,  and  then  said  : 

"  Cousin,  I  have  been  deceived,  because  I  really  be 
lieved,  that  should  Mr.  Livingston  seek  your  hand  in 
marriage,  that  he  would  be  an  acceptable  offering  to  you  " 

"  You  are  now  undeceived,  and  will  give  me  some  credit 
for  my  candor." 

"Yes,  Susie,  I  will,  and  be  equally  candid  with  you, by 
saying  that  when  Frank  Livingston  finds  he  can't  many 
Susie  Morton,  he  may  be  disposed  to  offer  himself  to 
Julia  Fizzlebaugh." 

"  In  that  event,"  said  Susie,  "  I  Hope  Julia  will  also  de 
cline  the  offer." 

"  Not  I ;  I  should  only  be  too  glad  to  receive  such  an 
offer,  for  Frank  has  all  the  requisites  I  wish  a  husband  to 
possess." 

"  Julia,  as  you  value  your  happiness,  do  not  entertain 
such  ideas.  Frank  cannot,  will  not  make  you  happy." 

44  Never  you  mind  that,  cousin  ;  I  know  better.  You 
are  well  acquainted  with  me  and  my  wishes — you  know 
that  I  am  determined  to  have  a  rich  husband,  and  Frank 
Livingston  is  the  man,  if  I  can  only,  in  any  way,  secure 
him." 

"  Julia,  take  my  advice,  and  give  him  up,  and  give  up 
all  desire  of  having  him  for  a  husband.  He  is  unworthy 
of  you,  or  any  other  woman  of  high  principles  and  affec 
tionate  feelings." 

"  High  principles  and  affectionate  feelings  may  be  given 
to  the  dogs,  for  what  I  care,  so  far  as  marriage  is  con- 


96 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


earned.  Give  me  a  rich  husband,  for  I  want  life,  com 
pany,  best  society,  high  living,  costly  dresses,  rich  jewelry, 
horses,  carriages,  servants,  comfort  and  ease  for  myself, 
and  money  alone  will  procure  for  me  my  wants. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  Julia,  to  hear  you  talk  so.  I  had 
hoped  that  the  time  passed  since  you  left  school,  about 
two  years  ago,  had  been  so  spent  by  you  that  you  would 
see  the  world  as  it  should  be  seen,  and  have  learned  that 
true  happiness  consists  not  in  fashion  and  high-life,  but  in 
a  congenial  companion,  and  a  proper  discharge  of  domes 
tic  duties." 

"  I  can  tell  you,  Susie  that  I  hate  domestic  duties,  and 
don't  mean  to  spend  my  life  in  scrubbing,  sweeping  and 
dusting  a  house,  not  I ;  I  don't  make  my  own  bed  now, 
nor  take  care  of  my  room ;  mother  does  it  all,  and  I  am 
sure  I  shall  do  no  such  thing  after  I  am  married. " 

"  How  then,  Julia,  do  you  spend  your  time  ?  Vou 
have  no  servant  except  the  little  black  girl  that  answers 
the  door  bell,  and  your  mother  must  have  more  to  do 
than  she  is  really  able  to  perform.  Do  you  never  help  her? " 

"  No  ;  I  have  not  been  brought  up  to  it,  and  am  not 
going  to  begin  now.  I'll  tell  you  how  I  spend  my 
time.  I  am  out  a  great  deal  to  balls  and  parties  nights, 
and  don't  return  home  until  near  morning,  so  that  I  sel 
dom  leave  my  bed  before  ten  or  eleven  o'clock  in  the  fore 
noon,  and  then  ma  always  has  a  hot  breakfast  for  me, 
and  after  eating  it  I  don't  feel  like  doing  anything,  and  I 
lie  down  on  the  sofa,  and  in  warm  weather  fan  myself  and 
read.  If  the  weather  is  not  warm,  I  read  without  fanning. 
O  !  it  is  such  a  luxury  to  read  a  good  novel,  and  think  of  a 
rich  husband." 

"  Who  washes  and  irons  your  light  ball  dresses  ?  " 

"  Ma  does  all  that  ;  you  don't  know  what  a  considerate 
mother  I  have, — she  does  everything,  and  1  have  nothing 
to  do.  She  makes  many  of  my  dresses,  and  all  my  other 
clothing.  If  I  have  a  pocket  handkerchief  to  hem  I  take 
it  right  to  ma,  and  no  matter  what  she  is  doing,  she  will 
stop  and  hem  it  for  me.  After  lunch,  I  do  my  shopping 
and  make  my  calls,  and  that  is  the  time  in  a  takes  to  do 
up  my  dresses." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  97 

"  Julia,  you  have  a  false  notion  of  life  and  its  duties, 
and  I  fear  that  you  will  have  to  suffer  for  it.  I  think  your 
parents  are  much  to  blame  in  so  bringing  you  up  and  edu 
cating  you,  that  you  cannot  fully  comprehend  life  and  its 
responsibilities,  and  have  only  one  idea  in  your  head,  and 
that  is  a  rich  husband,  believing  that  all  other  things 
necessary  will  be  added." 

"  Give  me  the  rich  husband  and  I'll  take  the  chances," 
was  Julia's  reply. 

"  Do  you  know,  Julia,  that  Mr.  Livingston  is  a  gambler, 
and  a  wine  drinker,  and  may  soon  waste  his  large  for 
tune  ?  " 

"  No,  Susie ;  I  do  not  know  it,  and  cannot  believe  it. 
He  is  a  gentleman,  and  has  a  large  fortune.  I  know  noth 
ing  of  his  gambling,  and  don't  believe  it.  I  know  that  he 
sometimes  drinks  freely  of  wine,  but  what  of  that  ?  I 
would  sooner  put  him  to  bed  every  night  drunk,  than 
marry  a  poor  man." 

"  Is  it  not  possible,  Julia,  for  me  in  some  way  to  change 
you,  or  persuade  you  to  think  no  more  about  marrying 
Mr.  Livingston  ?  Are  you  willing  under  any  circumstances 
to  accept  of  a  man  that  I  reject  ?  Have  you  no  pride,  no 
self-respect,  no  higher  aims,  no  nobler  aspirations  than  a 
rich  husband,  no  matter  what  else  he  may  be  ?  " 

"  That  is  all,  cousin  ;  because  I  expect,  with  the  attain 
ment  of  a  rich  husband,  to  be  put  in  possession  of  all  other 
things  that  my  heart  so  ardently  desires." 

"  What  will  you  do  with  such  a  man  as  Livingston,  if 
he  becomes  poor  ?  He  has  no  profession,  has  no  knowl 
edge  of  business, — nothing  to  fall  back  on  by  which  he 
could  support  a  family." 

"  That  is  something  I  don't  think  of;  that,  if  it  comes  at 
all,  must  come  in  the  future,  and  the  present  is  what  I  want 
to  enjoy,  and  let  the  future  take  care  of  itself." 

Susie  finding  that  for  the  present  she  could  make  no 
favorable  impression  on  the  mind  of  her  cousin,  concluded 
to  leave  that  part  of  the  subject,  and  trust  to  circum 
stances  and  the  future  for  greater  success.  Susie  had 
told  Julia  more  about  Frank  than  she  had  communicated 
to  any  one  else,  but  entertained  no  fears  that  Julia  would 


98 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


betray  any  secrets  or  say  a  single  word  that  would  be 
against  the  character  and  good  standing  of  Frank  Living 
ston.  Susie  had  no  idea  what  course  Julia  would  pursue, 
and  it  is  possible  that  Julia  herself  had  not  fixed  in  her 
mind  how  she  would  act. 

Susie  told  Julia  that  an  arrangement  had  been  made 
for  a  visit  to  the  Springs  on  the  following  day;  that  Frank 
had  invited  her  to  ride  with  him,  and  that  she  had  ac 
cepted  the  invitation,  that  he  might  have  an  opportunity 
to  say  all  he  wished. 

Julia  was  not  displeased  to  find  that  Mr.  Livingston 
would  soon  know  his  fate, — so  far  as  his  proposal  to  Susie 
had  anything  to  do  with  his  fate, — and  after  that  she  would 
trust  to  favorable  circumstances  for  the  accomplishment 
of  her  own  object. 

Susie  retired  to  rest  and  to  dream  of  the  future ;  Julia 
took  a  book  and  seated  herself  at  the  shaded  lamp  to  read 
and  scheme  of  the  future  and  of  Frank  Livingston ;  and 
so  for  the  present  we  leave  the  young  ladies. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

FRANK    LIVINGSTON    OFFERS  HIMSELF   IN   MARRIAGE,  AND 
IS  REJECTED. 

AT  the  usual  hour  in  the  morning  the  family  assembled 
in  the  breakfast-room  of  the  country-house,  but 
Frank  and  Julia  did  not  appear. 

Julia  continued  to  read  and  think  many  hours  after 
Susie  was  asleep,  and  as  was  her  custom,  had  no  inclina 
tion  for  early  rising  in  the  morning.  Susie  had  called  her, 
but  she  declined  to  get  up. 

Frank  Livingston,  knowing  the  Captain's  temperance 
habits  and  principles,  had  provided  himself  with  wine, 
and  after  all  the  family  had  excused  themselves  and 
wished  him  a  good-night,  he  went  out  on  the  piazza  with 
a  bottle  of  wine,  glass,  and  some  fine  Havana  segars,  and 
there  remained  drinking,  smoking  and  thinking  until  near 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  99 

morning.  It  was  a  lovely  summer  night,  well  calculated 
to  invite  and  keep  a  person  in  the  open  air,  but  it  was 
not  in  this  case  the  lovely  evening  that  kept  Frank 
from  his  bed, — it  was  the  force  and  power  of  habit.  For 
years  Frank  had  not  retired  to  rest  before  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  nor  had  he  left  his  bed  before  ten  o'clock. 
Susie  Morton,  as  usual,  was  up  and  dressed  at  sunrise, 
assisted  her  grandmother  and  Lizzie  in  arranging  the 
rooms  and  dusting  the  furniture,  and  was  as  cheerful 
and  apparently  happy  as  though  no  unusual  event  was 
about  to  take  place.  Such  was  her  self-command,  and 
so  confident  did  she  feel  in  her  ability  to  meet  and  over 
come  in  the  contest  about  to  be  entered  into,  that  she 
was  not  in  the  least  disturbed. 

Captain  Waters  made  it  a  rule  in  his  house  to  inform 
visitors  at  what  hour  the  meals  were  on  the  table,  and  when 
that  hour  came  the  meals  were  always  there,  and 
partaken  of;  there  was  no  waiting  for  absentees. 

Visitors  sometimes  appear  to  forget  that  there  is  no 
authority  in  the  code  of  hospitality  that  warrants  or  ex 
cuses  a  disregard  of  the  well-established  rules  of  a  family. 

After  they  were  seated  at  the  table,  Captain  Waters 
asked  if  the  visitors  had  been  called  in  time  to  dress 
for  breakfast,  and  being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  said: 

"  They  both  know  my  custom ;  we  will  not  wait.  I 
think  but  little  of  people  that  can't  get  up  in  time  for 
breakfast ;  they  never  amount  to  much." 

Susie  felt  that  her  grandfather  would  be  a  powerful 
ally  in  case  of  a  long  siege,  and  it  would  be  to  her  in 
terest  to  secure  an  alliance  with  all  who  could  aid  her. 

Noon  is  the  general  dinner  time  among  farmers,  and 
the  Captain  having  been  accustomed  to  dine  on  ship 
board  at  that  hour,  continued  to  do  so  on  the  farm. 

About  eleven  o'clock  Frank  and  Julia  made  their  ap 
pearance,  and  as  it  was  so  near  dinner-time,  concluded 
not  to  take  any  breakfast,  though  Julia  said : 

"  It  is  very  strange  that  Aunt  Nancy  didn't  have  some 
warm  breakfast  ready  for  me  ;  mother  would." 

The  Captain  and  Bo'son  both  heard  the  remark  ;  the 
Captain  said : 


I00  CAPTAtfr  WATERS 

"She  needs  something  besides  a  warm  breakfast;  a 
smart  whipping  would  do  her  good." 

The  Bo'son  said:  "  She  aint  worth  counting  ;  no  good 
about  her." 

Immediately  after  dinner  the  party  prepared  for  a  visit 
to  the  Springs.  Mr.  Livingston  offered  his  coachman  to 
drive  the  Captain's  carnage,  and  as  the  Captain  was  un 
acquainted  with  the  road,  the  offer  was  accepted.  Mr. 
Livingston  and  Susie  rode  together;  the  Captain,  Mrs. 
Waters  and  Julia,  with  the  coachman,  filled  the  family 
carriage. 

The  old  Captain  couldn't  exactly  understand  why  Susie 
was  with  Frank,  and  he  asked  Julia  why  it  was. 

Julia  answered  :  "  Uncle  Joe,  men  have  their  likes  as 
well  as  women,  and  why  shouldn't  Frank  ?  and  may-be  he 
wants  to  say  something  to  her." 

"  He  had  better  mind  what  he  says  to  her,  or  he  will 
have  me  on  his  'weather  bow;'  he  don't  get  up  early 
enough  in  the  morning  for  such  a  wife  as  our  Susie  would 
make,"  was  the  captain's  reply. , 

Had  Julia  been  anything  but  what  she  was,  such  ex 
pressions  would  have  disturbed  her.  They  did  not,  but 
on  the  contrary,  were  encouraging  to  her,  as  they  lessened 
the  chance  of  Susie's  acceptance,  and  increased  her  own 
prospects  at  some  day  of  receiving  a  proposal  from  Frank. 

Julia  could  not  divest  herself  of  the  idea  that  in  the 
end  Susie  would  accept,  because  she  could  not  fully  com 
prehend  the  possibility  of  such  an  offer  being  rejected. 

The  drive  over  to  Saratoga  Springs  was  a  pleasant  one; 
not  by  the  road  now  traveled,  as  at  that  time  there  was  no 
bridge  at  the  Narrows  of  the  Lake,  only  a  scow-ferry, 
and  most  of  the  travel  was  by  Stafford's  bridge,  across 
Fish  creek. 

There  was  much  company  at  the  Springs — many  known 
both  to  Captain  Waters  and  to  Frank,  so  that  a  few  hours 
were  passed  very  agreeably  in  visiting  the  different  water 
ing  spots,  and  enjoying  the  walks  of  the  well-laid  out 
grounds  belonging  to  the  different  hotels. 

It  was  when  returning  from  the  Springs  that  Frank 
Livingston,  after  deep  thought,  and  under  more  embar- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  j01 

rassment  than  he  was  accustomed  to  feel,  made  the  at 
tempt  to  convey  to  Susie  Morton  the  feelings  and  wishes 
of  his  heart.  Frank  had  a  heart,  and  a  good  one  ;  it  was 
his  head  that  was  weak  and  always  at  fault.  He  was  not 
deficient  in  knowledge,  nor  did  he  want  language  to  con 
vey  his  views  and  wishes.  He  thought  his  offer  would 
be  such  a  surprise,  such  an  agreeable  surprise,  that  there 
would  be  no  hesitation  on  Susie's  part  in  accepting  it. 

Frank  said  :  "  Miss  Morton,  are  you  aware  that  I  have 
long  been  an  admirer  of  you, — long  loved  and  adored 
you  ? " 

Susie  looked  him  calmly  and  earnestly  in  the  face,  with 
out  being  in  the  least  excited,  or  disturbed,  and  replied: 

"  I  am  not.     How  could  I  be  ?  " 

"  I  know,"  continued  Frank,  "  that  I  have  not  shown 
you  how  deeply  I  have  loved  you,  because  I  wished  to 
keep  in  reserve  this  great  surprise  of  offering  you  my 
hand  in  marriage,  which  I  now  do,  with  all  that  I  possess 
in  this  world,  and  leave  it  to  you  to  name  the  day  of  our 
union." 

"  Susie  was  still  calm,  still  undisturbed,  and  bestowing 
the  same  kind  look  that  she  gave  him  when  he  put  the 
first  question  to  her,  answered  in  her  softest  and  sweetest 
tones  of  voice ; 

"Mr.  Livingston,  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  offer; 
thank  you  for  the  honor  you  are  willing  to  confer  on  me, 
and  for  the  expression  of  your  esteem ;  but  without  con 
sulting  my  parents,  or  taking  time  for  consideration,  I  most 
respectfully  decline  it." 

Until  the  last  sentence  was  uttered,  Frank  had  no 
doubt  but  his  offer  would  be  accepted,  subject  to  the  ap 
proval  of  Susie's  parents,  nor  could  he  for  a  moment 
comprehend  that  such  was  not  the  case,  so  certain  was  he 
that  his  offer  would  be  favorably  received.  He  carefully 
weighed  in  his  own  mind  every  word  of  the  answer,  and 
thought  the  last  part  of  it  was  only  to  gain  time  and  have 
the  proposal  repeated,  and  then  said  : 

"  Miss  Morton,  you  do  not  certainly  mean  for  me  to 
understand  that  you  positively  decline  my  offer,  and  re- 
Aise  to  take  it  into  consideration  for  future  decision  ? " 


102 


CAP T AIM  WATERS 


"  I  can't  see,  sir,  in  what  plainer  or  stronger  language 
I  could  have  put  my  answer,  and  leave  no  doubt  on  your 
mind  of  rny  meaning." 

"  How  is  it  possible,  Susie,  that  you  can  disregard  such 
an  opportunity  of  being  settled  in  life,  and  of  making  me 
happy,  and  securing  your  own  happiness?  " 

"  Mr.  Livingston,  when  two  persons  enter  into  a  mar 
riage  engagement  for  mutual  happiness,  they  must  be  con 
genial  in  all  things,  and  love  each  other,  or  they  don't  at 
tain  the  object  of  their  union.  In  this  case  whatever  love 
there  is,  certainly  is  all  on  one  side,  for  I  do  not,  cannot 
love  you  as  a  wife  should,  and  therefore  cannot  marry 
you.  I  speak  very  plainly, — it  is  best  in  such  a  case,  and 
is  a  trait  in  my  character  that  I  have  inherited  from  my 
grandfather." 

The  more  Frank  listened  to  Susie,  the  more  anxious  he 
was  to  secure  her  for  his  wife,  and  he  urged  upon  her  his 
birth,  fortune,  position  in  society,  and  his  sincere  love  for 
her,  and  what  a  brilliant  career  she  would  have  in  the 
world  of  fashion  ;  and  then  told  her  that  he  had  made  the 
proposal  with  the  consent  and  sanction  of  her  parents,  who 
would  bestow  upon  their  union  a  father's  and  a  mother's 
blessing. 

Susie  Morton  remained  firm  in  her  decision,  but  still 
kind  and  calm  in  her  manner,  saying  in  reply  : 

"  Frank,  I  wish  you  well  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart 
(one  of  her  grandfather's  expressions);  would  do  anything 
consistent  with  my  own  happiness  to  secure  yours ;  shall 
ever  think  the  more  of  you  for  this  offer  of  yourself  and 
all  you  possess,  but  I  cannot  be  your  wife." 

A  new  idea  now  flashed  on  Frank's  mind.  There  must 
be  an  object  in  the  form  of  a  young  man,  that  somehow 
stood  between  them,  and  he  said  : 

"  Pardon  me,  Miss  Susie,  if  I  trespass  the  bounds  of 
prudence  and  propriety,  and  ask  if  a  prior  engagement 
prevents  you  from  accepting  my  offer  ?  " 

Susie's  eyes  flashed  with  an  unusual  brightness.  The  fire 
of  the  Captain's  eyes  was  seen,  though  only  for  an  instant, 
when  the  same  calm,  quiet  face  that  she  had  maintained 
through  the  whole  conversation  was  again  before  the  man 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  1O3 

who  had  asked  the  question,  and  waited  for  an  answer. 
Frank  saw  the  rapid  changes  of  Susie's  countenance,  and 
attributed  them  to  any  but  the  right  cause. 

After  a  moment  Susie  answered,  saying  : 

"  Frank  Livingston,  I  will  be  as  candid  in  answering  your 
last  question  as  I  have  been  in  answering  all  the  others 
that  you  have  asked,  though  you  really  have  no  right  to 
put  the  last  one,  or  to  expect  an  answer ;  but  I  will  con 
cede  it  in  this  case.  Yours  is  the  first  offer  of  marriage 
that  I  have  received,  and  if  I  knew  it  would  be  the  last, 
my  answer  would  be  the  same.  So  let  us  continue  to  be 
friends,  and  not  again  allude  to  marriage." 

Frank  was  astonished  at  the  firmness  and  candor  of  the 
woman  he  so  wished  to  make  his  wife,  and  equally  sur 
prised  that  she  should  reject  his  offer,  and  by  no  means 
disposed  to  give  up  the  contest. 

"  I  can't  promise  that;"  said  Frank,  "  but  here  we  are  at 
home,  and  for  the  present  our  conversation  must  close." 

As  they  drove  through  the  gate  into  the  yard,  Susie 
whispered  in  Frank's  ear:  "  Let  it  close  forever." 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE    BO'SON    UNDERTAKES    TO    NAVIGATE    AN     OX-CART, 
AND    BREAKS  AN    AXLE-TREE. 

''PHE  Bo'son  having  learned  from  Susie  Morton  enough 
1  of  what  transpired  between  Mr.  Livingston  and  her 
self  during  the  ride  from  Saratoga  Springs,  to  satisfy  him 
that  there  was  no  immediate  danger  to  be  apprehended, 
turned  his  attention  to  other  matters.  Bill  had  a  great 
desire  to  become  master  of  the  art  of  driving  oxen,  and 
he  lost  no  opportunity  of  improving  himself.  The  farmer 
and  his  assistant  were  both  willing  to  instruct  the  Bo'son, 
because  the  Bo'son  was  always  willing  to  help  them  in 
whatever  they  were  doing. 

The   Bo'son  had  fixed  up  a  small  building,  that  was 
some  distance  from  the  dwelling-house,  as  a  blacksmith's 


104  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

and  carpenter's  shop.  He  had  all  the  necessary  tools 
to  make  the  little  establishment  complete.  Any  of  the 
farming  utensils  that  were  out  of  repair  could  be  put  in 
order  at  the  shop,  and  that  made  it  very  convenient 
for  the  farmer,  saving  him  the  time  that  would  have  been 
necessary  to  take  them  to  the  village. 

Such  had  been  the  Bo'son's  life  and  habits,  that  he 
must  be  busy  about  something,  and  as  there  was  noth 
ing  more  to  be  done  at  carpentering,  blacksmithing  or 
painting,  he  devoted  his  whole  time  to  farming. 

Bill  concluded  that  he  knew  enough  of  the  science  of 
"ox-navigation  "  to  take  charge  for  a  short  voyage  near 
the  coast,  and  run  without  a  pilot.  He  yoked  up  the 
oxen,  put  them  before  a  cart,  and  went  to  the  meadow, 
where  the  farmer  loaded  him  with  hay,  and  Bill,  to  use 
his  own  language,  "  made  sail  for  a  home  port." 

The  oxen,  and  with  them  the  cart,  hay  and  Bo 'son, 
went  along  very  well  for  a  time,  but  in  passing  through  a 
gate,  the  oxen  suddenly  sheered  off,  struck  the  gate-post, 
knocking  it  down  and  breaking  the  axle-tree  of  the  cart. 
The  cart  fell  on  one  side,  and  the  oxen  stopped. 

Bill,  as  was  his  custom  when  in  trouble,  went  for  his 
captain,  who  was  found  on  the  piazza,  reading  the  marine 
news  from  a  late  paper.  The  Bo'son  touched  his  hat, 
at  the  same  time  saying  : 

"  Capt'n  Waters,  is  the  farm  well  insured  ?" 

"  Yes,  Bill ;  the  buildings  are  all  insured  ;  the  land  is 
safe  without  insurance.  But  why  do  you  ask  ?" 

"  The  ox-cart  has  been  stranded  on  a  reef,  and  may  be 
a  total  loss.  I  want  you  to  go  alongside,  sir,  and  give 
orders  how  to  save  what  can  be  saved  from  the  wreck." 

The  captain  went,  and  found  matters  as  above  stated, 
and  asked  Bill  how  it  happened. 

"  I  was  running  along,"  said  Bill,  "  under  easy  sail,  when 
I  found  that  I  was  coming  to  a  narrow  part  of  the  chan 
nel,  and  I  sung  out, '  Steady,  there,  mind  your  lee  wheel ;' 
then  I  remembered  that  I  wasn't  on  board  of  a  ship,  and 
I  sung  out  'shee,"  when  I  ought  to  have  sung  out  'haw,' 
and  she  answered  her  helm,  'fell  off,'  and  before  I  could 
bring  her  to  the  wind,  was  hard  and  fast  on  the  lee- 


AMD  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  IC>5 

shore,  and  a  wreck.  Now,  sir,  what  I  want  is  orders  how 
to  save  the  cargo  and  float  the  wreck." 

"  In  the  first  place,  Bo'son,  take  the  oxen  from  before 
the  cart,  and  then  go  and  call  Mr.  Harrowell,  ask  him  to 
come  here  with  the  horses  and  hay-wagon,  and  we  will 
lighten  the  wreck,  and  after  that  get  her  off." 

Aye,  aye,  sir!  "  was  Bill's  reply. 

When  the  farmer  reached  the  place,  the  hay  was  un 
loaded;  a  rail  fixed  and  lashed  under  the  cart,  and  it  was 
then  taken  to  the  shop,  Captain  Waters  saying,  "  there 
isn't  time  to  send  it  to  the  village." 

"  Captain,"  said  Bill,  "you  don't  want  to  send  that  cart 
away  to  be  repaired." 

"  You  have  no  timber,  Bo'son,  fit  for  an  axle-tree." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  have  ;  some  of  that  seven-inch  Delaware 
oak,  such  as  the  staunchions  between  decks  of  the 
'  Neptune  '  were  made  of,  will  do  for  the  axle-tree  of  an 
ox  cart,  as  it  is  home  seasoned." 

"  Have  you  any  of  that  here  on  the  farm,  Bo'son  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  enough  for  a  dozen  axle-trees,  and  it  can't  be 
beat  for  that  or  any  other  purpose ;  as  it  has  been  seven 
years  on  the  ship,  it  is  well  seasoned." 

"That  is  so,  Bo'son;  but  what  made  you  think  of 
bringing  timber  to  the  farm  ?  " 

"  I  thought,  sir,  it  might  be  wanted,  same  as  the  tar  ; 
you  haven't  called  for  anything  yet  that  your  Bo'son 
hasn't  on  board,  and  there  are  many  things  stowed  away 
that  have  not  been  wanted;  when  they  are,  the  Bo'son  will 
'break  them  out'  you  may  be  sure." 

Bill  went  to  work  with  a  will,  and  soon  constructed  a 
new  axle-tree  of  the  seven-inch  Delaware  oak,  and  when 
it  was  finished,  he  offered  to  bet  his  best  go-ashore  jacket 
that  he  could  "  knock  down  every  gate-post  on  board  the 
ship  without  breaking  it." 

After  the  ox-cart  was  ready  for  use,  Bill  found  a  saw- 
log  that  would  square  eighteen  inches,  and  prepared  it 
for  a  gate-post.  With  the  assistance  of  the  farm  hands 
it  was  set  in  its  place,  and  the  gate  again  hung.  When  it 
was  finished,  the  Bo'son  said: 

"  There's  a  gate-post  strong  enough  to  break  all  the 


106  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

axle-trees  on  board  of  the  farm.  The  next  time  that  the 
ox-cart  gets  ashore  on  this  coast  and  breaks  something,  it 
will  not  be  a  gate-post  or  axle-tree." 

Captain  Waters  had  his  eye  on  the  Bo'spn,  watching 
him  while  he  was  mending  the  cart  and  fixing  the  gate. 
It  was  not  with  any  ill-feelings,  but  with  pride  and  satis 
faction,  that  an  old  ship-master  was  watching  his  Bo'son, 
carpenter,  blacksmith,  his  man  of  all  work  and  all  care, 
repairing  some  damage  done  for  want  of  proper  knowledge 
or  proper  care.  The  Captain  mused  awhile,  and  then 
went  to  the  house,  where  he  found  Mrs.  Waters  in  the 
sitting-room,  engaged  with  some  light  sewing  work,  and 
he  said: 

"  Mother,  that  Bill  Thomas  is  worth  his  weight  in 
diamonds;  he  is  just  the  same  on  the  farm  that  he  was  on 
the  ship;  if  anything  gives  way,  the  Bo'son  is  on  hand  to 
repair  it,  and  has  with  him  the  materials  to  do  it." 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think,  '  Old  Boy,'  you  would  do 
without  him? — could  you  '  navigate'  the  farm  without  your 
Bo'son  and  steward? " 

"  No,  Nancy,  not  very  well,  though  I  have  not  ordered 
the  Bo'son  '  to  call  all  hands  and  ready  about,'  nor  have  I 
'carried  away  a  spar  and  wanted  him  to  make  another.'" 

"  If  you  have  not  parted  a  log-chain,  you  have  come 
very  near  wanting  the  tongue  of  an  ox-cart  fished,"  was 
the  lady's  reply. 

"  That  is  so,  old  girl,  and  I  perceive  that  you  have  not 
forgotten  the  evening  when  you  helped  Bill  with  some 
land  phrases  in  the  cabin  of  the  '  Neptune.'  " 

"  And  for  it  was  accused  of  mutiny,"  said  Mrs.  Waters. 

The  old  captain  put  his  arm  around  the  neck  of  his  wife, 
and  gave  her  an  affectionate  and  hearty  kiss,  saying  as  he 
did  so  : 

"  There,  take  that  for  your  mutiny." 

The  lady  must  have  been  used  to  such  treatment,  for 
she  was  neither  vexed  nor  disturbed,  but  after  returning 
the  kiss,  continued  her  work,  and  said  : 

"  Joe,  my  old  bluster,  there  will  always  be  a  young  and 
warm  place  about  your  heart,  that  neither  years  nor  cli 
mate  can  chanp"  " 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  IOf 

"  I  hope  so,  for  I  don't  wish  to  grow  cold  until  the  end 
of  the  voyage,  when  I  stop  breathing ;  and  I  am  at  present 
so  agreeably  situated,  that  I  don't  care  how  long  the  voy 
age  lasts.  All  of  the  old  crew,  the  Bo'son,  steward  and 
Lizzie,  appear  so  well  satisfied  with  the  change,  and  so 
contented  on  the  farm,  that  there  is  nothing  now  wanting 
to  complete  my  happiness." 

"  Except  a  husband  for  Susie." 

"  He  will  come  along,  all  in  good  time,"  said  the  Cap 
tain. 

"  He  may  be  here  now,  Joseph,  in  the  person  of  Mr. 
Livingston." 

"Nancy  Waters,  would  you  be  willing  that  our  pet 
should  be  his  wife  ?  " 

"  No,  never ;  I  had  rather  follow  her  to  the  grave,  or 
see  her  buried  in  the  middle  of  the  ocean,  than  see  her 
the  wife  of  Frank  Livingston." 

"She  is  an  uncommon  girl,  Nancy,  but  I  think  she 
would  not  make  up  her  mind  to  marry  any-one  without 
saying  something  to  us  about  it." 

"Such,  Joseph,  is  my  opinion;  but  we  must  watch  over 
her,  and  if  we  find  that  her  heart  is  warming  towards  him, 
we  must  tell  her  what  his  habits  are." 

"  Never  you  fear,  mother,  Susie  will  not  throw  herself 
away  on  such  a  fellow,  if  he  had  twice  his  weight  in  dia 
monds  to  back  his  suit  with." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

FRANK   LIVINGSTON  TALKS   WITH  THE  FAMILY. 

T^RANK  Livingston  felt  that  he  was  placed  in  rather  an 
I  unpleasant  position,  but  did  not  doubt  his  final  suc 
cess,  which  he  concluded  would  be  accomplished  with  the 
assistance  of  Susie's  parents,  notwithstanding  her  decided 
denial.  Little  did  he  realize  with  whom  he  had  to  deal, 
little  did  he  understand  the  strength  of  Susie  Morton's 
character,  or  the  combination  of  persons  and  influence 


I08  CAPTAJN  WATERS 

that  she  could  array  against  him.  It  may,  in  such  cases, 
be  considered  unfortunate  for  a  young  man,  who  has 
the  richest  gifts  of  nature,  improved  and  polished  by  edu 
cation  and  intercourse  with  the  best  society ;  one  who  has 
been  born  heir  to  a  fortune  ample  enough  to  gratify  every 
taste  and  every  desire  ;  if  he  has  not  been  taught  that  the 
world  and  people  in  it  were  not  created  especially  for  his 
benefit.  Frank  Livingston  had  been  so  much  sought  after, 
and  so  often  given  to  understand,  by  young  ladies  and 
their  parents,  that  an  offer  of  marriage  would  be  con 
sidered  a  very  agreeable  affair,  and  accepted;  that  in  mak 
ing  such  an  offer  for  the  first  time,  and  having  it  declined, 
which  was  so  unexpected  to  him,  that  the  whole  ground 
work  of  his  reasoning  was  swept  away.  An  earthquake, 
or  the  sun  suddenly  turned  to  darkness,  would  not  have 
more  surprised  him,  and  yet  he  had  firmness  and  command 
enough  over  himself  to  completely  hide  his  feelings  and 
disappointment  from  others.  He  spent  the  night  as  he 
had  the  previous  one,  on  the  piazza,  drinking,  smoking 
and  thinking  ;  and  when  he  left  the  piazza  for  his  bed,  it 
was  near  morning,  and  he  had  fully  determined  how  he 
would  proceed  to  accomplish  his  object  of  securing  the 
hand  of  Susie  Morton  in  marriage. 

Frank  determined  first  to  renew  the  proposal  to  Susie, 
and  if  she  continued  to  decline  the  offer,  he  would  secure 
the  assistance  of  Julia  on  the  inside,  and  of  Bo'son,  as  a 
guard,  on  the  outside;  and  then,  by  way  of  the  Springs, 
visit  New  York,  and  seek  the  aid  of  William  and  Laura 
Morton,  father  and  mother  of  Susie. 

His  first  object  was  to  obtain  an  interview  with  Susie, 
which  he  did  about  an  hour  before  Julia  made  her  ap 
pearance  from  her  sleeping  apartment. 

Susie*  was  alone  in  the  sitting-room,  engaged  in  looking 
over  the  papers  and  late  publications  of  the  day,  when 
Frank  entered,  and  in  that  easy  and  polished  manner 
natural  to  him,  said  : 

"  Good  morning,  Miss  Susie." 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Livingston." 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  suffering  any  ill  effects  from  your 
ride  yesterday." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO* SOX.  i&g 

"None  whatever;  the  weather  was  so  fine,  and  the 
roads  so  good,  that  the  ride  could  not  but  be  pleasant," 
was  Susie's  reply. 

"  The  ride  having  been  pleasant,  Miss  Morton,  I  hope 
that  after  a  night's  reflection  you  will  be  disposed  to  give 
my  proposal  a  more  favorable  consideration." 

"  Mr.  Livingston,  if  there  had  been  the  least  chance  of 
my  giving  at  a  future  day  any  different  answer  than  I 
gave  you  yesterday,  I  should  have  frankly  told  you  so ; 
but  there  has  been  and  can  be  no  change  in  my  decision ; 
the  answer  was  final." 

"  I  still  think  that  you  have  not  considered  all  the  ad 
vantages  of  such  a  union,  and  therefore  shall  still  hope 
and  believe  that  your  parents'  wishes  and  influence,  ioined 
with  my  own  pleadings,  will  change  your  mind." 

There  was  a  perceptible  flush  passed  over  the  face  of 
the  young  lady,  but  it  instantly  faded  away,  leaving  her 
countenance  as  calm  and  as  decided  as  before  it  appeared. 
Few  could  have  seen  Susie  Morton,  sitting  as  she  was  at 
the  centre  table,  to  which  she  had  returned  after  leaving 
it  to  receive  Mr.  Livingston  when  he  entered  the  room, 
combining  as  she  did  in  her  mind,  mildness  and  firmness, 
and  in  her  person,  beauty  and  grace,  and  not  have  loved 
her.  Frank  Livingston  knew  not  until  this  interview  how 
much  he  really  loved  her.  He  had  been  pleased  with  her, 
and  had  concluded  to  marry  her,  and  so  sure  of  an  accept 
ance  was  he,  that  he  had  wagered  a  large  sum  of  money 
with  a  brother  gambler  that  within  a  certain  time  Susie 
Morton  would  be  his  wife.  Susie,  after  sitting  a  moment 
in  silence,  looked  him  mildly  in  the  face  and  said  : 

"  Mr.  Livingston,  the  wishes  of  my  father  and  mother 
in  regard  to  myself  will  be  gratified  on  my  part,  at  the 
sacrifice  of  every  desire  and  every  personal  consideration 
but  that  of  my  future  happiness.  Their  influence  cannot 
change  my  mind  in  regard  to  yourself.  Now  Frank,  take 
the  advice  of  one  you  consider  and  wish  to  call  your 
friend.  Go  seek  some  young  lady's  hand  in  marriage, 
who  can  love  you  as  a  wife  should  love  her  husband,  to 
make  both  happy;  discard  some  of  your  young  men  ac 
quaintances,  get  married,  become  a  domestic,  and  you  will 


no  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

become  a  happy  man.  Susie  Morton  will  pray  for  such  a 
result,  and  rejoice  in  seeing  you  realize  it." 

"  By  all  that  is  lovely,  if  you  will  be  my  wife,  such  shall 
be  my  future  life." 

"  It  cannot  be,  Frank,  you  have  my  answer,  and  with 
me  there  can  be  no  change.  So  let  me  say  good  morning 
to  you,"  and  she  immediately  left  the  room. 

After  Susie  had  left  the  room,  Frank  sat  and  thought 
for  a  time,  and  was  there  joined  by  Julia  Fizzlebaugh, 
the  very  person  he  most  wished  to  see. 

Frank  Livingston  was  in  just  that  state  of  mind  which 
qualifies  a  man  for  acts,  and  urges  him  on  to  do  them. 
He  had  much  at  stake.  He  had  set  his  heart  on  having 
Susie  for  a  wife,  he  had  wagered  his  money  on  the  result, 
he  had  offered  himself  and  been  refused.  .  He  hoped  still 
to  succeed,  and  knew  that  if  he  failed  he  must  lose  his 
money,  and  bear  the  jeers  of  his  friends.  Nothing  must 
be  left  undone  to  accomplish  his  object,  so  he  at  once 
opened  the  subject  by  saying: 

"  Miss  Fizzlebaugh,  I  want  your  assistance  ;  I  have 
offered  myself  to  Susie,  and  have  been  refused  ;  I  must 
make  her  my  wife  if  possible,  and  you  must  help  me." 

Here  was  a  beautiful  state  of  things,  and  none  but  a 
half  or  wholly  madman  would  have  sought  such  assist 
ance,  nor  would  Frank  Livingston,  had  he  known  all  the 
facts.  It  was  a  fine  opportunity  for  Julia,  knowing  as  she 
did  so  many  of  the  circumstances;  and  whatever  else  she 
may  have  been,  she  was  smart  enough  to  perceive  all  the 
advantages  of  a  pleader  for  Mr.  Livingston  in  such  a 
cause,  and  she  at  once  said: 

"  Frank,  I  will  do  anything  that  will  secure  your  hap 
piness,  and  aid  you  as  far  as  I  can  in  persuading  Susie  to 
become  your  wife." 

"  I  only  wish,"  said  Frank,  "  for  you  to  talk  to  Susie  at 
proper  times  and  in  a  proper  way,  of  the  many  advantages 
that  she  would  enjoy  by  marrying  me,  of  the  high  posi 
tion  in  society  that  she  would  occupy,  and  the  wealth 
that  would  be  at  her  command  ;  urge  everything  that  you 
can  think  of  in  my  favor,  and  write  me  if  there  is  any 
young  man  calls  often  to  see  her.  You  can  talk  freely 


AND  BILL,  HfS  BO 'SOA-  HI 

with  the  Bo'son,  and  have  him  take  your  letters  to  the 
office,  for  he  will  be  in  my  interest." 

Julia  promised  to  do  what  she  could,  and  they  parted, 
each  feeling  for  the  other  some  considerable  friendship. 
Julia  now  would  have  opportunities  of  writing  to  Mr.  Liv 
ingston,  and  she  intended  improving  them. 

Frank,  after  leaving  Julia,  sought  and  found  the  Bo'son 
in  his  midship-house,  where  he  was  making  a  canvas  cov 
ering  for  the  farm  wagon,  that  was  to  be  used  in  taking 
the  products  of  the  farm  to  market. 

"  Bo'son,"  said  Frank,  "  what  do  you  think  of  Miss 
Susie  Morton  ?  " 

"  I  think,  sir,  that  black  eyed  Susan  is  just  the  best  and 
handsomest  girl  in  the  world  ? " 

"  Would  you  do  her  a  favor  and  a  kindness  ?  " 

"When  the  time  comes  that  Bill  Thomas  refuses  to 
board  black-eyed  Susan  when  she  is  in  distress,  may  he 
be  struck  with  a  squall,  and  lose  all  three  masts,"  was  the 
Bo'son's  answer. 

"  I  thought  as  much,  Bo'son  ;  now  give  me  your  hand." 

The  Bo'son  gave  his  hand,  because  he  seldom  refused 
it,  and  was  willing  to  shake  hands  with  anybody  on  that 
subject. 

"  What  I  want  of  you,  Bo'son,  is  that  you  will  keep  a 
sharp  eye  on  Miss  Morton,  and  not  let  her  get  married  to 
any  improper  person." 

"You  can  depend  on  my  doing  that,"  said  the  Bo'son. 

'*  If  you  find  any  such  chap  around,  will  you  tell  Miss 
Julia  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  if  I  can't  run  him  off  with  the  dog, — and  I  am 
sure  to  do  so  if  black-eyed  Susan  don't  want  him  about." 

That  was  not  exactly  what  Frank  wanted,  but  he  was 
talking  to  a  son  of  "  Neptune,"  and  felt  that  he  must 
make  every  suitable  allowance.  Frank  did  not  for  a 
moment  consider  himself  an  improper  person  to  be  the 
husband  of  Susie  Morton,  so  nothing  that  the  Bo'son  had 
said  applied  to  him. 

"You  will  have  no  objection  to  taking  letters  to  the 
office  for  Miss  Julia  ? " 

"  No,  sir  ;  "  was  the  Bo'son's  only  answer- 


1 1 2  CAP  TAW  WA  TERS 

"  I  can  then  surely  count  on  your  looking  after  Miss 
Susie  ?  " 

"  If  there  is  anything  sure,  that  is." 

Frank  took  out  his  pocket  book,  and  taking  some  bills 
from  it,  handed  them  to  the  Bo'son.  Bill  declined  them, 
saying : 

"  Put  up  your  bills,  sir;  the  Bo'son  never  takes  money 
for  doing  his  duty." 

Frank  put  up  his  money  and  said  :  "  I  shall  depend  on 
you." 

"  You  can  do  that  with  perfect  safety,"  answered  the 
Bo'son. 

Frank  then  shook  hands  again  with  Bill,  and  left. 

When  Frank  turned  away,  Bill  shut  his  right  eye, 
and  drew  down  the  right  corner  of  his  mouth,  follow 
ing  him  with  the  other  eye, — he  commenced  talking  to 
his  dog. 

"  Yes,  old  dog ;  the  Bo'son  will  look  sharp  after  black- 
eyed  Susan,  and  when  such  a  craft  as  that  cuts  her  out 
of  the  fleet,' Bill  Thomas  will  throw  his  Bo'son 's  whistle 
overboard,  and  in  the  next  engagement  act  as  powder 
monkey." 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

FRANK  LIVINGSTON  LEAVES  THE  FARM. 

FRANK  Livingston  left  the  farm-house  of  Captain 
Waters  and  went  to  Saratoga  Springs,  where  he  re 
mained  a  few  days,  and  then  to  New  York,  in  order  to 
confer  with  the  parents  of  Susie  Morton.  He  called  on 
Mr.  Morton  at  his  store,  and  they  had  a  lengthy  conver 
sation  in  the  private  office,  and  there  arranged  for  a  meet 
ing  that  evening,  at  the  house  of  the  Mortons. 

Frank  called,  and  found  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  at  home 
to  receive  him.  He  frankly  and  fully  told  them  all  that 
had  taken  place  between  their  daughter  and  himself,  de 
tailed  their  whole  conversation  just  as  it  occurred,  and 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  z  I3 

then  declared  his  fixed  intention  of  using  every  honorable 
means  to  become  the  husband  of  Susie  Morton. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  had  letters  from  their  daughter, 
in  which  she  mentioned  that  Frank  and  Julia  were  at  the 
farm,  spoke  of  their  visit  to  the  Springs,  and  in  her  last 
letter  wrote  that  Mr.  Livingston  had  left;  but  in  none  of 
her  letters  did  she  in  any  way  allude  to  the  offer  of  mar 
riage  from  him.  That  very  much  surprised  both  her  father 
and  mother. 

Mr.  Morton  and  his  wife  were  much  grieved  at  the 
course  taken  by  their  daughter,  and  encouraged  Mr. 
Livingston  not  to  despair,  assuring  him  that  he  should 
have  their  united  influence,  and  also  the  influence  of 
Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters,  who,  they  felt  certain,  would 
see  all  the  advantages  of  such  a  marriage. 

It  was  arranged  that  at  the  end  of  three  weeks  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Morton  should  visit  the  farm  together,  and 
there,  assisted  by  the  Captain  and  his  wife,  bring  such  an 
influence  to  bear  on  Susie  as  would  be  irresistible.  It 
was  also  arranged  that  during  that  time  nothing  should 
be  said  or  written  to  Susie  on  the  subject,  nor  should  Mr. 
Livingston  visit  her,  but  at  the  appointed  time  he  should 
be  at  the  Springs,  ready  to  go  to  the  farm  when  sent  for. 

It  was  thought  by  all  that  a  few  weeks  in  the  country, 
where  Susie  would  have  time  to  reflect,  might  change  her 
views,  and  that  after  consideration  she  would  look  upon 
the  offer  in  a  more  favorable  light. 

Julia  and  Susie  freely  conversed  with  each  other,  and 
fully  understood  how  matters  were,  excepting  the  conver 
sation  and  arrangement  between  Frank  and  Julia.  That 
Julia  kept  to  herself.  She  fulfilled  her  promise  of  show 
ing  Susie  all  the  advantages  of  a  marriage  with  Mr. 
Livingston,  and  as  she  was  now  fully  satisfied  that  Susie 
would  not  marry  him,  her  determination  was  strengthened 
to  marry  him  herself  if  possible,  and  to  accomplish  that 
object  she  would  have  sacrificed  the  happiness  of  her 
cousin,  or  even  the  cousin  herself. 

Julia  repeated  to  Susie  her  determination,  and  exacted 
from  her  a  promise  not  to  reveal  it.  Susie  also  repeated 
her  irrevocable  resolution  not  to  marry  Mr.  Livingston, 


,I4  .     CAPTAIN  WATERS 

and  then  used  her  strongest  arguments,  and  exhausted 
her  childlike  and  truthful  eloquence  to  lead  Julia  to  the 
same  conclusion.  Never  were  such  appeals  before  made 
by  one  so  young.  She  told  her  cousin  again  that  it  was 
impossible  for  her  to  be  long  happy  with  such  a  man  as 
Frank  for  a  husband.  Susie  urged  against  the  marriage 
of  her  cousin  with  Mr.  Livingston:  his  habits  of  drinking 
and  gambling,  his  constant  association  with  men  who  were 
debasing  him  with  their  characters  and  acts,  his  being 
out  late  every  night,  and  how  entirely  unfitted  he  was  to 
make  any  woman  long  happy  as  his  wife.  That  however 
large  his  fortune  then  was,  the  course  that  he  was  pur 
suing  would  soon  lessen,  and  eventually  exhaust  it  all;  and 
then  besought  her,  by  every  consideration,  to  forbear  in 
time,  and  seek  her  happiness  where  it  was  more  sure  to  be 
found. 

Julia  listened  to  her  cousin  as  .though  she  had  been  a 
grandmother,  and  was  giving  her  the  benefit  of  many  years 
experience,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  Susie's  very  kind  and 
strong  appeal,  Julia  indulged  herself  with  a  loud  laugh, 
and  said  : 

"  What  a  sensible,  silly  little  creature  you  are,  if  the 
terms  are  not  too  contradictory.  One  would  think  that 
you  had  the  advantage  of  many  years  experience,  and 
still  you  really  know  nothing  of  the  world,  the  fashionable 
world,  in  which  I  must  live  and  flourish  to  be  happy.  I 
do  not  wish  to  receive  without  proper  consideration,  what 
you  so  earnestly  and  kindly  mean,  but  you  know  not  the 
joy  and  intoxicating  pleasures  of  fashionable  life,  because 
you  have  not  tasted  them,  and  yoil  have  been  so  much  at 
sea  with  your  grandparents,  that  Aunt  Nancy  has  filled 
your  little  head  with  strange  notions  about  life  and  its 
duties. 

"  For  which  I  shall  ever  be  very  grateful,"  said  Susie. 

"  You  talk  of  love,  duty,  contentment  and  life  in  a  cot 
tage  on  the  bank  of  some  river,  and  I  talk  of  life  in  the 
gay  world,  at  the  fashionable  summer  resorts,  with  wealth 
enough  to  meet  the  expenses,  and  shine  as  brightly  as  the 
brightest.  You  talk  of  home  duties  and  housekeeping;  I 
have  no  taste  for  such  things,  and  hope  I  never  shall  have, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  II5 

for  if  I  marry  Frank  Livingston,  or  some  other  rich  man, 
I  shall  have  servants  to  attend  to  those  matters." 

"  Has  affection  nothing  to  do  with  marriage  in  your 
opinion,  Julia  ?  " 

"  Nothing  whatever  with  me,  my  sentimental  cousin; 
money,  money,  high  life  and  easy  times  is  what  I  want, 
and  will  have,  if  I  can  get  them." 

"  I  would  press  this  subject  more  home  to  your  consid 
eration,  Julia,  but  I  see  that  it  is  useless.  I  greatly  fear, 
entering  life  as  you  propose  to  do,  that  you  will  live 
to  regret  and  suffer  for  your  want  of  a  proper  understand 
ing  of  its  duties  and  responsibilities.  In  my  former  con 
versation  with  you  on  this  subject,  a  few  evenings  since,  I 
then  had  only  faint  hopes  of  changing  your  views,  and 
those  hopes  have  now  faded  entirely  away." 

"  Yes,  Susie  ;  it  must,  by  you  at  least,  be  understood 
that  I  am  not  to  be  a  bread  and  butter  wife.  I  shall  pre 
tend  to  love  Frank,  and  endeavor  to  make  him  and  the 
world  believe  it,  but  such  foolish  feelings  have  nothing 
to  do  with  my  marriage."  Here  Julia  excused  herself, 
and  going  to  her  room  wrote  the  following  letter  to  Mr. 
Livingston  : 

"  WATERS'  SNUG  HARBOR,  August  zd^  185-. 
"  FRANK  LIVINGSTON,  ESQ., 

"  DEAR  SIR  :  In  accordance  with  your  wishes  I  have 
closely  watched  our  mutual  friend,  and  lost  no  opportu 
nity  to  talk  with  her  of  the  many  and  great  advantages 
the  young  lady  will  enjoy  who  becomes  your  wife.  I  have 
spoken  to  her  of  your  fortune,  family,  position  and  person 
in  the  highest  possible  terms;  presented  to  her  the  bril 
liant  career  that  the  future  Mrs.  Livingston  will  have  in 
the  fashionable  world,  and  that  in  refusing  the  generous 
offer  you  have  made,  she  rejects  one  of  the  noblest  and 
best  of  men,  with  a  heart  overflowing  with  warm  and  strong 
affection  for  her ;  such  an  offer  as  she  will  never  again 
receive,  and  one  that  few  would  refuse.  The  only  answer 
I  can  draw  from  her  is  :  1 1  do  not  love  him,  and  under  no 
circumstances  will  I  marry  him.'  Susie  is  a  strange  girl, 
who  has  been  much  with  her  grandmother,  and  from  her 


IX6  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

received  some  strange  ideas.  There  has  been  no  young 
gentleman  visiting  her,  nor  has  she,  to  my  knowledge,  re 
ceived  letters,  except  from  her  family.  It  is  my  firm 
opinion  that  her  heart  has  been  bestowed  on  another,  or 
why  should  she  refuse  one  who  has  few  equals  and  no 
superior  ?  The  only  reason  that  can  be  assigned,  is  that 
her  pure  and  childish  heart  has  been  bestowed  on  or  ex 
changed  with  some  one,  and  that  she  has  some  of  the 
stubborn  nature  of  her  grandfather,  and  determines  not 
to  change  it.  You  have  my  warmest  sympathy  for  your 
suffering  in  disappointment,  and  the  assurance  that  I  will 
do  all  in  my  power,  to  aid  you  in  securing  happiness. 

"Yours  to  command, 

"JULIA    FlZZLEBAUGH. 

"P.  S.  Please  have  some  lady  direct  your  letters  to  me, 
in  case  you  write,  or  your  hand  may  be  recognized.  J.  F." 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

WELCOME  GOODWIN  VISITS    THE  BO'SON. 

WELCOME  Goodwin,  having  returned  from  the  New 
York  yearly  meeting,  and  having  a  wish  to  be  bet 
ter  acquainted  with  the  the  man  who  had  so  interested 
him,  and  that  to  him  seemed  such  a  strange  creature, 
called  on  Captain  Waters,  and  after  spending  an  hour 
inspecting  the  house  and  furniture,  and  in  conversation 
with  the  family,  who  appeared  much  pleased  with  him  and 
he  with  them,  asked  : 

"Where  is  William?" 

The  captain  answered  :  "  I  don't  know  who  you  mean  ; 
we  have  no  person  of  that  name  on  the  farm." 

"  I  mean  that  man  with  such  an  unusual  dress  on,  who 
was  at  meeting  with  you  the  first  time  you  attended. 
Since  then  I  have  been  away,  and  not  seen  him,  and  I 
am  very  desirous  of  knowing  more  about  him." 

"  Oh !  you  mean  Bill  Thomas  the  Bo'son,"  said  the 
captain. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  r  j  7 

"Surely  that  is  what  he  said  of  himself,  now  thou 
bringest  it  to  my  mind  ;  but  thou  knowest  peradventure 
that  we  Friends  do  not  call  people  by  nick-names,  and 
that  was  my  reason  for  asking  after  William." 

"  His  name  is  no  more  William  than  mine  is  Jonathan, 
for  I  have  seen  it  written  many  times." 

"  Well,  well,  friend  Waters ;  tell  me,  if  thou  canst,  why 
he  comes  to  have  such  a  name." 

"  Mr.  Goodwin,  you  must  ask  the  Bo'son  that  question." 

"  I  shall  do  so,  with  thy  permission,  when  I  see  him. 
Is  he  on  the  farm  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir.  He  is  in  his  house  '  strapping  a  block  '  for 
neighbor  Hardengrip,  and  if  you  would  like  to  see  him, 
Mr.  Goodwin,  we  will  walk  out  there,"  said  the  captain. 

"  That  is  exactly  to  my  mind,  friend  Waters,  for  I  am 
credibly  informed  that  in  the  house  thou  speakest  of 
there  are  many,  very  many  curious  things  not  before  seen 
in  these  parts,  and  that  some  of  them  have  been  brought 
from  foreign  countries." 

"That  is  really  so,  Mr.  Goodwin.  The  Bo'son  has 
brought  from  the  ship  many  articles,  some  that  may  be 
useful,  and  some  that  I  can  see  no  good  cause  for  bring 
ing  ;  but  Bill  says  '  they'll  come  handy  some  time  before 
the  voyage  ends,'  and  he  may  be  right." 

Captain  Waters  and  Welcome  Goodwin  left  the  dwell 
ing,  and  went  to  the  midship-house,  where  they  found  the 
Bo'son  engaged  as  Captain  Waters  had  stated.  When 
they  went  in  Captain  Waters  said : 

"  Bill,  Mr.  Goodwin  has  called  to  see  you  and  your 
house." 

The  Bo'son  left  his  seat,  a  small  wooden  stool,  placed 
on  a  piece  of  old  canvas  spread  on  the  floor,  to  keep 
any  little  drop  of  tar  or  grease  that  might  fall,  from 
spotting  the  floor.  On  the  canvas,  and  near  the  stool, 
was  a  small  bucket  of  tar  and  another  of  slush  (grease), 
a  "  marlin-spike  "  and  "  serving-mallet,"  which  the  Bo'son 
had  been  using.  He  had  just  completed  his  job  when 
the  gentlemen  entered.  Bill  advanced  to  meet  Mr.  Good 
win,  saying: 

"  You  are  very  welcome,  sir ;  but  excuse  me,  I  can't 


n8  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

shake  hands  with  you,  for  I  have  a  little  tar  and  slush  on 
my  fingers  from  that  block-strap  of  Mr.  Hardgripe.  I 
hope  you  are  very  well,  Mr.  Goodwin  ? " 

"  I  am  in  usual  health,  Bo'son,  and  hope  that  thou  art 
also  well  ?  "  • 

"  Very  well,  thank  you,  sir  ;  and  if  you  will  wait  a  few 
minutes,  I'll  clear  up  the  decks,  wash  my  hands,  and  be 
ready  to  serve  you." 

The  Bo'son  rolled  up  the  piece  of  canvass,  after  putting 
away  the  little  buckets,  and  then  swept  the  floor,  after 
wards  offering  chairs,  and  asking  the  callers  to  be  .seated. 
Captain  Waters  wished  to  visit  the  hay  field  where  the 
men  were,  and  saying  that  he  would  soon  return,  left  Mr. 
Goodwin  and  the  Bo'son  by  themselves.  Mr.  Goodwin 
looked  carefully  and  earnestly  around  the  room  for  some 
minutes,  and  then  said: 

"  William,  thou  hast  indeed  many  wonderful  and  strange 
things  in  this  room." 

"  Mr.  Goodwin,  let  me  tell  you  again  that  my  name  is 
not  William ;  it  is  Bill  Thomas,  but  I  am  mostly  called 
Bo'son." 

"It  is  nox  che  custom  of  our  society  to  call  any  one  out 
of  his  name,  and  I  am  far  from  wishing  to  depart  from 
that  custom  ;  and  thou  hast  again  brought  the  subject 
forcibly  to  my  mind,  and  will  not,  I  trust,  feel  agrieved 
with  me  for  asking  why  thou  hast  such  a  strange  name, 
and  who  could  have  given  it  to  thee  ?" 

Bill  related  to  the  friend  all  the  circumstances  of  his 
early  life,  and  how  it  happened  that  he  was  called  Bill 
Thomas,  a  name  that  he  had  been  known  by  for  many 
years,  and  one  that  he  did  not  wish  to  change. 

"  It  is  wonderful,  strange,  and  indeed  marvelous,  that 
a  boy  should  have  been  so  circumstanced  and  so  neg 
lected  in  childhood  and  early  youth,  as  not  to  know  its 
parents,  and  not  to  have  a  name.  Who  superintended 
thy  education  ?" 

"  No  one,  sir ;  I  was  never  inside  of  a  school-house 
until  I  came  to  the  farm.  I  mean  the  one  up  the  road, 
and  near  the  meeting-house." 

"  Canst  thou  neither  read  nor  write  ?" 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  x  I9 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  can  now  do  both  tolerably  well." 

"Where,  then,  didst  thou learn  ?" 

"  On  the  ship,  since  I  have  been  sailing  with  Cap'n 
Waters." 

"  Who  has  been  thy  teacher  ?  " 

"  The  steward  mostly;  some  little  I  learned  from  Lizzie." 

"  Has  the  steward  sufficient  learning  to  do  more  than 
teach  the  first  simple  lessons  of  an  education  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  the  steward  has  a  superior  education,  speak 
ing  and  writing  the  French,  Spanish,  and  German  langua 
ges.  He  has  done  all  the  cap'n's  writing  for  many  years." 

"  Has  he  many  books  here  with  him  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir;  enough  to  fill  six  full-sized  sea-chests." 

"  Thou  givest  me  but  a  vague  idea  of  the  number  of 
books  that  the  steward  may  have,  as  I  have  no  notion  in 
regard  to  the  size  of  a  sea-chest." 

"  A  full-size  sea-chest — that  is  for  a  whaleman — is  three 
feet  and  a  half  long,  by  two  feet  square." 

"  The  steward,  then,  must  have  very  many  books. 
Dost  thou  think  that  he  would  be  willing  for  me  to  see 
them  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  sir;  and  we'll  go  to  his  room  after  you  have 
looked  over  the  things  here." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  do  so ;  and  now  I  will  say  to  thee, 
that  in  future  I  can  call  thee  Bill  Thomas,  or  Bo'son, 
whichever  first  comes  to  my  mind,  and  not  feel  that  I  am 
departing  from  the  customs  of  our  society.  If  thou  wilt 
explain  the  use  of  these  things  that  are  unknown  to  me, 
and  tell  me  their  names,  I  will  be  obliged  to  thee." 

The  Bo'son  called  his  attention  to  the  signal-lanterns, 
and  though  of  different  colors,  might  be  useful  on  the 
farm  or  anywhere  else.  There  were  a  great  many  lanterns 
of  different  sizes,  and  the  number  only  astonished  Mr. 
Goodwin.  The  top-sail  sheet  couplings,  the  Bo'son  said, 
would  be  handy  on  a  farm  in  case  a  log-chain  was  bro 
ken.  Mr.  Goodwin  was  much  pleased  with  the  coupling, 
and  wished  to  buy  one.  The  Bo'son  declined  to  sell,  but 
asked  him  to  accept  of  two  of  them,  saying: 

"  I  have  enough  on  board  to  last  many  voyages,  and 
you  can  have  more  if  you  need  them." 


I20  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  Thou  art  very  kind,  and  I  am  much  obliged  to  thee, 
but  are  these  things  thine  to  give;  do  they  not  belong  to 
friend  Waters? " 

"  It  was  Cap'n  Waters'  money  that  paid  for  them,  but 
the  Bo'son  that  took  them  from  the  ship  and  brought 
them  to  the  farm,  or  they  would  have  been  left  in  the  ship 
and  not  been  paid  for.  Whatever  is  in  the  Bo'son's 
charge  on  board  of  this  farm,  the  Bo'son  is  allowed  to 
sell  or  give  away.  I  have  sailed  with  Cap'n  Waters  too 
long  for  him  not  to  trust  me,  and  he  knows  that  every 
body  belonging  to  the  ship  will  look  after  his  interest.  He 
would  be  offended  if  I  asked  permission  to  give  you  them 
couplings,  or  anything  else  that  I  saw  fit  to  give  away." 

"  My  mind  is  perfectly  clear  on  the  subject,  and  I  feel 
easy  after  what  thou  hast  said,  and  free  to  accept  thy  gift." 

Mr.  Goodwin,  after  examining  all  that  was  worthy  of 
notice  in  the  Bo'son's  house,  asked  to  be  taken  to  the 
steward's  room;  that  was  in  the  mansion  house.  When 
they  passed  into  the  house,  the  steward  was  in  the  kitchen, 
but  Bill  called  him,  and  he  went  with  them  to  his  room. 
The  room  was  a  large  one,  over  the  kitchen  portion  of 
the  house  It  was  in  perfect  order,  the  ceiling  of  good 
height,  the  walls  papered  and  the  floor  carpeted.  The 
furniture  consisted  of  a  mahogany  bedstead,  with  a  bed 
made  up  and  covered  with  a  white  counterpane,  two  large 
rocking-chairs,  one  arm-chair  for  sitting  at  a  writing-table, 
writing-desk  and  book-cases,  all  of  mahogany;  there 
were  also  two  wardrobes,  a  bureau  and  washstand,  the 
last  two  with  marble  tops.  The  steward,  as  usual,  was 
neatly  dressed,  and  immediately  on  entering  the  room 
asked  the  visitor  to  be  seated  in  one  of  the  rocking- 
chairs,  taking  the  other  himself.  Mr.  Goodwin,  after 
sitting  a  few  minutes  in  silence,  said: 

"  Steward,  I  am  so  amazed  at  what  I  have  seen  to-day, 
and  am  now  seeing,  that  I  am  not  prepared  to  learn  what 
I  wish  to  know.  I  am  amazed;  there  must  be  something 
mysteriously  attractive  that  binds  you  all  so  closely  and 
harmoniously  together.  At  some  other  time,  if  thou  art 
willing,  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  talk  with  thee  and  learn 
thy  history." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  I2i 

The  steward  said:  "  I  shall  be  pleased  to  see  you  in  my 
room  any  day  between  one  and  four  o'clock,  listen  to 
your  instruction,  or  impart  to  you  any  information  in  my 
possession." 

"  I  thank  thee,  steward ;  now  farewell,"  and  warmly 
shaking  the  steward's  hand,  left,  as  the  steward  said — 

"  Good-bye,  sir." 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

AMOS  HARDENGRIP  AND  FAMILY 

AMOS  Hardengrip,  the  man  that  the  Bo'son  strapped  a 
block  for,  was  one  of  nature's  strange  productions, 
who  seemed  to  have  only  one  idea,  one  wish,  one  ruling 
passion  ;  and  that  was  to  get  and  keep  money  ;  possess 
ing  not  a  single  wish  to  purchase  with  it  any  comforts, 
nor  even  necessaries  for  himself  or  his  family. 

He  owned  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  about  seven 
miles  from  that  of  Captain  Waters.  The  farm  was  so  sit 
uated,  that  in  the  hands  of  any  other  man  would  have  been 
a  pleasant  and  productive  one.  The  farm  descended  to 
him  from  his  father,  and  though  his  for  twenty-five  years, 
during  all  of  that  time  no  repairs  had  been  put  on  the 
buildings,  no  improvements  made  in  them,  nor  had  a  pound 
of  paint  been  used  on  the  inside  or  outside  of  any  of  them. 
The  house  was  small,  inconvenient,  much  out  of  repair, 
and  hardly  fit  to  live  in. 

He  had  three  children  ;  a  daughter  married  and  living 
in  one  of  the  new  States  at  the  West ;  one  son  about 
twenty  years  old,  that  the  father  hired  out  to  one  of  the 
neighboring  farmers,  with  the  understanding  that  the 
farmer  wasn't  to  pay  the  boy  one  cent  of  his  wages,  as  the 
father  was  in  the  habit  of  saying  :  "  All  the  money  the  boy 
earns  to  the  day  that  he  is  twenty-one  years  old,  and  on 
that  day  until  twelve  o'clock,  is  mine,  and  I  mean  to  have 
it."  The  other  son  was  eighteen  years  old,  and  was  on  the 
farm  with  his  father.  The  mother  of  the  children  died 

6 


,22  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

when  the  youngest  son  was  two  years  old,  and  within  a 
year  the  father  again  married,  and  the  second  wife  reared 
the  children. 

Amos  Hardengrip,  at  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing, 
was  fifty  years  old;  a  tall,  spare,  raw-boned  man,  who  was 
six  feet  high  when  he  held  his  head  up,  which  was  very 
seldom.  He  had  a  thin,  lantern-jawed  face,  with  not 
enough  flesh  on  it  to  produce  and  sustain  any  considera 
ble  growth  of  beard,  as  the  sides  of  his  face  and  peaked 
chin  were  only  thinly  covered  with  coarse  reddish  hair, 
and  there  did  not  appear  to  be  intellectual,  nor  any  other 
power  or  soil  enough  in  his  head,  to  produce  a  decent 
crop  of  hair.  He  was  not  bald,  but  never  had  much  hair, 
for  the  reason  that  the  head  wasn't  of  sufficient  strength 
and  depth  to  grow  it.  He  had  small,  dull  gray  eyes,  a  few 
long  black  isolated  teeth,  and  a  whole  appearance  and 
manner  that  made  him  disagreeable  wherever  he  went. 
He  had  but  little  education,  and  knew  nothing  of  the 
world  beyond  the  small  circle  in  which  he  moved. 

The  second  wife  was  a  Christian,  and  proved  a  mother 
to  his  children;  made  a  slave  of  herself  for  them,  and 
failed  in  doing  as  much  and  as  well  for  them  as  she  wished 
to,  in  consequence  of  her  husband's  ruling  passion  to 
make  and  save  money.  They  would  have  gone  without 
proper  clothing  but  for  her,  when  they  were  young.  She 
asked  for  money  to  supply  the  children  with  clothing,  and 
he  refused  it.  She  went  to  the  store,  purchased  what  was 
needed,  and  had  it  charged.  He  paid  the  bill  after  try 
ing  to  make  things  unpleasant  at  home,  but  forbid  the 
storekeeper  from  giving  credit  again.  It  made  no  differ 
ence;  when  more  clothing  was  wanted,  more  was  charged 
to  Amos  Hardengrip,  and  Amos,  after  a  fuss,  paid  the 
bill,  to  avoid  a  suit  at  law. 

When  the  children  were  young,  he  sent  them  to  the  dis 
trict  school,  because  his  wife  made  him  believe  they  were 
in  her  way,  and  would  prevent  her  from  doing  the  neces 
sary  work  of  the  farm-house.  When  the  daughter  was 
nine  years  old,  he  "  declared  that  she  was  old  enough  to 
spin,  and  could  earn  the  bread  that  went  in  at  her  mouth." 
After  that  she  never  went  to  school  At  the  same  age  the 


AND  BILL,  HIS  £O'SON.  123 

boys  were  taken  from  school  for  the  same  reason,  and 
put  to  work  on  the  farm. 

The  Bo'son  in  some  way  became  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Hardengrip,  and  offered  to  re-strap  a  block  used  to  raise 
water  from  the  well.  Such  a  man  would  not  refuse  such 
an  offer. 

It  was  about  a  week  after  the  time  spoken  of  in  the 
last  chapter,  that  Mrs.  Hardengrip  died.  She  had  not 
been  well  for  some  time,  but  he  refused  to  call  a  doctor, 
saying  "  It  is  nothing  but  a  cold,  with  a  little  fever.  Stir 
around  and  work  it  off ;  that  is  better  than  having  to  pay 
a  doctor  for  nothing.  Keep  a  stirring,  I  say." 

Betsey  Hardengrip  had  stirred  too  long  and  too  much, 
when  she  was  unable  to  do  so,  from  illness,  and  at  last 
passed  away,  without  the  neighbors  knowing  that  she 
was  sick. 

When  it  was  known  that  she  was  no  longer  living, 
neighbors,  who  had  not  been  at  the  house  for  years, 
called  to  give  consolation  to  the  afflicted,  and  offer  such 
assistance  as  the  circumstances  rendered  necessary. 

It  is  ever  thus,  when  death  unexpectedly  invades  the 
dwelling  of  a  neighbor.  All  indifference,  all  unkind  feel 
ings  and  all  dislikes,  for  the  time,  are  forgotten,  or  have 
no  influence  to  prevent  a  well  or  undeserved  sympathy 
for  the  living,  and  a  proper  respect  to  the  departed. 

The  people  of  that  neighborhood,  alive  to  duty  and 
sympathy,  were  not  deterred  from  either,  by  the  life  and 
character  of  Amos  Hardengrip. 

Welcome  Goodwin,  never  backward  when  any  unusual 
circumstance  called  for  aid  or  sympathy,  with  others 
went  to  what  all  expected  was  indeed  a  house  of  mourn 
ing.  Bill  Thomas  the  Bo'son,  actuated  by  the  same  feel 
ings,  in  the  absence  of  Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  from 
their  home,  felt  that  it  was  his  duty  to  call  and  offer 
all  the  assistance  possible. 

Mr.  Goodwin  and  the  Bo'son  met  at  the  gate  of  Har 
dengrip,  and  entered  the  house  together.  They  found 
others  of  the  friends  and  neighbors  already  there. 

Welcome  Goodwin,  being  a  minister  in  the  society  of 
Friends,  was  expected  by  the  others  to  speak  in  sym- 


124 


CAP  TAW  WATERS 


pathy,  as  the  sad  occasion  called  for.  After  sitting  in 
silence  for  a  time,  Mr.  Goodwin  said  : 

"  Amos,  thou  hast  met  with  a  great  and  unexpected 
loss,  and  we  have  called  to  offer  our  sympathy,  and  what 
consolation  we  can  give." 

"Yes,  Mr.  Goodwin,  it  is  a  great  loss,  at  this  season 
of  the  year  ;  if  it  had  been  after  killing-time,  when  the 
fall  work  was  over,  I  shouldn't  have  minded  it  so  much, 
but  now  it  comes  a  little  tough." 

"  Thou,  Amos  Hardengrip,  hast  lost  such  a  wife  as 
every  man  has  not  been  blessed  with ;  a  woman  esteemed 
by  all  who  knew  her." 

"  Betsey  was  a  very  profitable  wife, — she  was  a  small 
eater  and  a  good  worker,  and  it  didn't  cost  much  for 
her  clothes." 

"  She  has  left  a  vacancy  that  can't  be  filled ;  and  thy 
children,  though  she  was  not  their  own  mother,  loved 
her  as  such,  and  will  deeply  regret  her  death,  for  she 
always  did  well  for  them." 

"  At  the  cost  of  many  dollars  to  me,"  said  Amos. 

"  Hast  thou  no  regrets,  no  feelings  of  sadness  nor  sor 
row  for  the  death  of  one  thou  hast  so  long  lived  with, 
and  who  has  been  so  kind  and  good  to  thee  and  thine  ?  " 

"  I  have  already  said  that  coming  before  killing-time 
and  the  fall  work,  I  do  feel  bad.  What  more  can  I  say  ? 
I  have  some  things  to  comfort  me  for  the  loss.  There 
will  be  one  mouth  the  less  to  fill  through  the  coming  long 
winter,  and  Betsey  has  left  much  good  clothing,  that  I  have 
been  looking  over  this  morning,  and  calculating  will  bring 
considerable  money,  which,  with  the  preserves  and  sweet 
meats  that  she  lately  put  up,  when  all  sold  for  cash,  will 
more  than  make  me  whole  for  her  loss." 

"  Amos,  is  there  nothing  but  dollars  and  cents  to  be 
considered  and  sought  after  ?  Is  there  no  friendship,  no 
regrets,  no  kind  remembrance,  no  broken  links  in  the 
chain  of  affection,  that  money  is  not  an  equivalent  for?' 

"  Money  is  the  most  precious  thing  in  the  world,  if  one 
could  only  get  enough  of  it ;  and  now  let  us  talk  busi 
ness,"  said  the  wretch  of  a  Hardengrip,  who  had  not  dur 
ing  the  conversation  exhibited  in  his  face  a  single  mark 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  I2$ 

of  sorrow,  and  certainly  had  not  shown  by  his  language 
any  sorrow  of  the  heart.  He  addressed  himself  to  Bill, 
and  said  : 

"  Bo'son,  you  are  handy  at  all  work  ;%  can  you  make  me 
a  coffin  to  bury  the  woman  in  ?  You  will  find  old  boards 
enough  around,  and  if  not,  you  can  knock  some  off  the 
fence  that'll  do,  and  save  buying  ? " 

The  request  of  such  a  man  made  to  a  warm  and  noble 
hearted  sailor,  who  could  estimate  the  cold-hearted  Hard- 
engrip  at  his  true  value,  received  a  proper  answer.  The 
Bo'son  said  : 

"  Mr.  Hardgripe  (Bill  could  never  get  his  name  right), 
I  have  made  many  things,  but  not  a  box  of  that  kind. 
I  don't  want  to  make  the  first  one  of  old  stuff;  but  I'll  tell 
you  what  I  can  do.  I  have  an  old  hammock  that  I  will  give 
you,  and  I  can  sew  misses  up  in  that,  put  some  stones  at 
the  feet,  and  you  can  then  bury  her  in  the  river,  and  that 
will  save  the  cost  of  digging  the  grave." 

"  That  would  be  some  saving,  Bo'son ;  but  the  people 
would  talk  about  it,  and  might  think  strange  of  me;  but,  now 
I  think  of  it,  there  is  a  man  over  near  the  lake  that  owes 
me  a  trifle.  He  is  a  carpenter,  and  will  pay  in  work,  so  I 
will  ride  over  there  this  afternoon,  and  kill  two  birds 
with  one  stone — collect  the  debt  and  get  a  coffin,  to  bury 
the  woman,  and  in  that  way  save  the  boards  that  are  on 
the  fence.  I  dare  say  some  of  the  neighbors  will  dig  the 
grave.  May-be  you  will  help  them  ?" 

"  It  is  a  kind  of  work  I  don't  know  anything  about.  I 
may  learn  by  the  time  you  die,  and  then  I  will  dig  your 
grave  with  a  good  deal  of  pleasure,  and  may-be  the  neigh 
bors  would  like  to  help  me,"  said  Bo'son. 

Friend  Goodwin  here  observed :  "  We  all  came,  Amos, 
to  sympathize  with  and  assist  thee,  but  I  cannot  see  that 
we  are  of  any  benefit  to  thee,  as  thou  hast  no  tender  feel 
ings  that  we  can  reach  and  touch." 

"  If  your  women  folks  could  come  in  at  killing  time, 
and  give  me  a  lift,  it  will  be  of  some  account,  as  I  shall 
then  miss  Betsey." 

All  that  were  present  had  become  so  disgusted  with  the 
man  that,  without  any  ceremony,  they  left,  and  when  out 
of  the  house,  Friend  Goodwin  said  to  Bill : 


I26  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  That  man  has  no  heart.  I  am  glad  there  are  but  few 
like  him  in  the  land." 

"  He  is  so  mean,  and  so  worthless,  that  if  he  should 
fall  overboard,  my  dog  Bose  wouldn't  jump  over  and 
save  him  from  drowning,"  was  the  Bo'son's  reply. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

GEORGE    WILSON    VISITS   THE    WATERS    FARM. 

ONE  fine  afternoon,  not  long  after  the  deatk  of  Mrs. 
Hardengrip,  George  Wilson  very  unexpectedly  made 
his  appearance  at  the  farm.  It  was  known  that  the  ship 
had  arrived,  but  he  was  not  looked  for  at  the  "  Snug 
Harbor,"  as  the  farm  was  generally  called- 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  were  still  from  home,  though 
expected  that  evening.  They  were  over  in  Washington 
county,  visiting  an  old  sea-captain  and  family  settled 
there.  The  two  captains  and  their  families  had  been 
long  acquainted,  and  for  some  years  separated,  until  this 
visit,  which  had  been  prolonged  beyond  the  time  set  by 
Captain  Waters  to  be  at  home. 

The  old  dog  was  lying  on  the  horse-block,  his  favorite 
place  when  not  engaged  on  any  special  duty,  when  he 
suddenly  arose  and  sat  up  for  a  moment,  and  then  gave 
one  bark,  and  started  down  the  road  at  the  highest  pos 
sible  speed. 

The  Bo'son  knew,  by  the  action  of  the  dog,  that  some 
friend  was  coming,  and  he  supposed  it  to  be  the  captain. 
The  old  dog  was  so  delighted  that  he  was  nearly  frantic, 
and  the  Bo'son  soon  discovered  who  was  coming,  and 
went  to  the  gate,  which  he  opened,  and  standing  beside 
it,  hat  in  hand,  waited  for  the  buggy  to  pass.  The  old 
Bo'son's  face  was  lit  up  with  an  expression  of  joy  and 
gladness  that  was  spreading  all  over  it.  As  the  carriage 
was  passing  through  the  gate,  without  having  it  stopped, 
Mr.  Wilson  jumped  and  stood  at  the  side  of  the  Bo'son. 
They  shook  hands,  and  then  the  Bo'son  took  him  in  his 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON  !  2 7 

arms  and  started  for  the  house ;  but  George  said  :  "  Hold 
on,  Bo'son,  none  of  that ;  put  me  down,  and  put  on  your 
hat,  old  boy." 

The  Bo'son  obeyed  orders,  for  that  was  one  of  his 
standing  rules,  no  matter  what  the  consequences  might 
be.  After  a  moment  the  Bo'son  said : 

"  George — Mr.  Wilson,  I  mean — you  don't  know  how 
glad  I  am  to  see  you.  Coming,  too,  without  being  ex 
pected,  makes  it  all  the  more  .welcome." 

While  all  this  was  taking  place,  the  two  were  passing 
from  the  gate  towards  the  house,  where  they  were  met  by 
the  steward  and  Lizzie,  who  gave  George  Wilson  such  a 
reception  as  might  be  expected  from  those  who  for  years 
had  sailed  with  him  on  the  ocean.  The  dog,  that  recog 
nized  his  shipmate  when  some  distance  from  the  gate, 
was  repaid  for  his  sagacity  by  the  caresses  he  received. 
Susie  and  Julia  were  engaged  in  their  room,  and  hearing 
an  unusual  stir,  concluded  the  captain  had  returned,  and 
when  informed  by  Lizzie  who  had  come,  Julia  saw  a  sud 
den  change  in  the  face  of  her  cousin  that  told  a  tale,  and 
one  that  Julia  was  delighted  to  be  in  the  possession  of. 
Those  changes  told  Julia  Fizzlebaugh  that  Frank  Liv 
ingston  had  nothing  to  rest  a  hope  on. 

Deep  down  in  the  pure  heart  of  Susie  Morton  were 
hidden  feelings  known  only  to  herself,  and  that  would  not 
have  betrayed  themselves  had  Susie  been  on  her  guard  ; 
and  she  was  not  now  aware  that  Julia  was  possessor  of 
her  secret. 

The  young  ladies  arranged  their  dresses,  and  then  went 
to  the  sitting  room,  where  George  Wilson  and  the  Bo'son 
were  waiting  to  receive  them. 

The  meeting  was  friendly  and  cordial  between  George 
and  Susie,  for  they  had  been  some  years  acquainted  with 
each  other,  and  made  a  number  of  voyages  together. 
Julia,  herself,  had  she  not  been  an  interested  spectator, 
could  not  have  discovered  any  traces  of  latent  feelings 
existing  with  either  of  them.  They  were  both  on  their 
guard,  and  Julia  on  the  watch. 

Julia  had  not  before  seen  George  Wilson,  and  when  in 
troduced  by  Susie  felt  that  she  was  making  the  acquaint- 


I2g  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

ance  of  no  ordinary  man,  and  that  if  she  was  in  the  line 
and  business  of  love,  and  he  not  otherwise  engaged,  she 
could  love  him  very  dearly,  and  especially  so  if  he  only 
had  plenty  of  money;  but  knowing  that  Wilson  was  poor, 
no  matter  how  much  better  and  nobler  he  might  be,  by 
nature  and  practice,  than  Frank  Livingston  was,  there 
were  weightier  reasons  than  the  nobility  of  nature  and 
the  dignity  of  manhood,  that  must  influence  her  in  mar 
riage.  Julia  did  not  fail  to  see  that  Wilson  was.  just 
the  kind  of  a  man  such  a  girl  as  Susie  Morton  would 
be  likely  to  love. 

The  young  ladies,  George  Wilson  and  Bo'son,  remained 
in  the  sitting-room  until  the  dinner-bell  rung,  and  then 
the  Bo'son  left,  after  arranging  with  Mr.  Wilson  to  meet 
him  in  the  midship-house  in  the  afternoon.  Bill  said  to 
the  dog  when  he  was  about  leaving: 

"  You,  Bose,  can  stay  with  Mr.  Wilson,  if  you  wish ;" 
and  Bose  did  stay. 

At  the  table  there  were  only  Susie,  Julia  and  George 
Wilson.  The  conversation  was  general,  and  when  the 
meal  was  over,  Wilson  and  Susie  were  left  by  themselves, 
Julia  going  to  her  room.  They  had  nothing  particular  to 
say  to  each  other,  except  to  inquire  after  friends,  and 
speak  of  the  voyages  they  had  made  together.  They 
were  to  each  other  as  brother  and  sister,  yet  there  was 
deep  down  in  the  heart  of  each  warm  feelings  of  affection, 
that  neither  dared  to  confess,  and  that  each  wished  for 
the  present  to  hide  from  the  other.  They  could  not  but 
find  a  pleasure  in  each  others  company,— could  remain 
together  unembarrassed,  and  freely  talk  on  any  and  every 
subject  but  the  one  nearest  their  hearts. 

Mr.  Wilson,  according  to  promise,  met  the  Bo'son  in 
his  house,  and  there  learned  how  things  had  been  managed 
on  the  farm,  and  that  all  there  were  contented.  The 
Bo'son  told  Mr.  Wilson  about  his  first  "  milking  voyage," 
and  how  it  ended, — also  his  first  introduction  to  "  butts," 
the  ram  with  black  legs,  and  how  that  account  was  set 
tled.  It  was  very  difficult  to  tell  which  of  the  two 
laughed  the  loudest  or  heartiest  over  those  affairs.  It 
was  very  evident  that  both  enjoyed  themselves.  Each 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SON.  I2g 

continued  to  be  interested  in  what  the  other  was  telling, 
until  the  arrival  of  Captain  Waters,  which  was  just  before 
supper-time. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  were  pleased  to  see  Mr.  Wil 
son,  and  gave  him  such  a  reception  as  convinced  him  that 
he  was  a  welcome  visitor. 

Captain  Waters  inquired  about  tne  ship  "  Neptune,"  in 
which  Wilson  had  made  a  voyage  since  the  ship  had  been 
sold.  Mr.  Wilson  informed  his  old  captain  that  the  new 
owner  and  new  master  were  pleased  with  the  "  Neptune," 
and  he  had  engaged  to  go  on  another  voyage  to  Liv 
erpool  in  the  ship.  He  also  stated  that  he  had  only  a 
few  days  leave  of  absence,  and  must  make  but  a  short 
visit  to  the  farm,  and  spend  only  a  few  days  with  those  that 
he  had  sailed  with  from  the  first  of  his  going  to  sea;  but 
he  felt  under  so  many  obligations  to  Captain  Waters  and 
his  family,  that  he  couldn't  make  another  voyage  without 
coming  up  and  seeing  them,  and  learning  how  they  were 
situated. 

"  You  did  right,  George,  perfectly  right,"  said  the  Cap 
tain,  "  and  I  should  have  blamed  you  if  you  hadn't  have 
come,  my  boy.  It  shows  that  you  don't  forget  your  old 
friends.  How  did  you  leave  your  mother  and  sister, 
George?  " 

"  I  thank  you,  sir;  they  are  both  very  well,  and  wished 
to  be  remembered  in  kindness  to  you  and  the  whole 
family." 

"  I  am  pleased  to  hear  from  them,  and  learn  that  they 
are  well.  How,  George,  do  you  like  the  Bo'son's  quar 
ters,  and  his  system  of  navigating  a  farm  ?  " 

"  Bill  Thomas  can't  change  much,  sir,  and  he  will  be 
good  at  everything  he  undertakes  to  do.  That  house  of 
his,  on  the  inside,  is  an  improvement  on  the  '  Neptune's  ' 
midship-house,  though  in  many  respects  like  it;  on  the 
outside,  with  the  mast,  bowsprit  and  figure  of  old  '  Nep 
tune,'  it  shows  that  whoever  rigged  it  was  a  finished  sailor; 
but  what  a  lot  of  stuff  he  has  with  him  !  " 

"  The  Bo'son,  George,  says  '  everything  there  will  be 
needed  before  the  voyage  is  up;'  and  I  shouldn't  know 
how  to  sail  the  farm  without  him.  He  can  do  now  any- 


,30  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

thing  that  the  others  can  do,  and  a  great  many  things  that 
they  can't  do.  He  is  Bo'son  all  the  time,  everywhere, 
and  will  be  while  he  lives,  and  is  the  same  favorite  in 
this  neighborhood  that  he  was  on  the  ship.  How  did 
you  get  along  without  him  ? " 

"  I  missed  him,  sir,  more  than  the  captain  and  first  mate 
did,  because  they  never  had  him  with  them;  but  Bill  Wil 
liams,  who  had  been  three  years  in  the  ship,  was  our  bo'son, 
and  did  very  well,  and  we  had  a  carpenter  and  a  black 
smith,  and  the  three  of  them  together,  were  not  equal  to 
the  old  Bo'son." 

"  George,  I  would  just  like  to  see  any  three  men  that 
were  equal  and  as  good  as  Bill  Thomas  is  by  himself. 
They  cannot  be  found,  I  believe.  If  I  should  lose 
him  I  think  I  should  sell  the  farm,  for  without  him  and 
the  steward  it  would  be  more  care  than  I  want  on  me, 
but  with  them  I  have  but  very  little  care  about  anything. 
Now,  George,  as  you  were  traveling  a  long  way,  we  may 
as  well  say  good  night  all  around,  and  '  turn  in.'  *' 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

A  FAMILY  SOCIABLE. 

EARLY  the  next  morning  George  Wilson  was  up  and 
out  in  the  yard  where  the  men  were  milking,  and  he 
saw  the  Bo'son  milk  two  cows.  When  they  were  all  milked 
Bill  took  two  large  pails  of  milk  and  asked  George  to  go 
with  him  to  the  milk-room.  At  the  milk-room  they  found 
Mrs.  Waters,  Lizzie  and  Susie.  Susie  was  in  the  same 
morning  dress  and  apron  that  she  wore  when  she  took  her 
first  lesson  in  butter-making.  She  was  skimming  a  pan  of 
milk  when  they  went  in,  and  the  visit  of  George  being  un 
expected,  Susie  blushed  a  little  at  his  seeing  her  in  such 
a  dress.  The  slight  blush  only  increased  her  beauty,  and 
George  Wilson  from  that  day,  and  for  many  years  after 
wards,  positively  declared  and  said  :  "  I  never  before  nor 
since  saw  such  a  heavenly  looking  and  beautiful  creature." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON,  131 

The  compliments  of  the  morning  were  hardly  passed 
when  Captain  Waters  put  in  an  appearance,  looking  pleased 
and  very  happy.  When  he  was  around,  and  Susie  with 
him,  there  was  sure  to  be  a-  lively  time.  Captain  Waters 
and  the  old  Bo'son  were  about  on  a  par  in  their  opinion 
of  Susie  Morton,  and  both  of  them  thought  her  little  less 
than  an  angel,  and  considered  it  next  to  impossible  for  her 
to  do  anything  wrong ;  and  it  was  very  seldom  that  Susie 
made  even  a  slight  mistake  in  not  saying  or  doing  the 
right  thing.  After  the  Captain  had  wished  them  all  good 
morning  he  said  : 

"  George,  you  see  that  sly  puss  of  a  Susie,  sailing 
around  the  cream  jar, — cats,  you  know,  like  cream.  What 
do  you  think  of  her  for  a  dairy-maid?  " 

"  I  think,  sir,  that  like  the  Bo'son,  Susie  will  learn  only 
what  is  worth  knowing,  and  be  useful  when  learned.  She 
will  excel  in  whatever  she  undertakes." 

"  You  are  about  right,  George ;  but  I  pity  the  man  who 
gets  her  for  a  wife,  unless  he  can  exercise  more  control  over 
her  than  I  am  able  to,  for  she  will  have  her  way,  and  get 
up  early  in  the  morning." 

"  Joe  Waters,"  said  his  wife,  "you  had  better  tack  ship 
and  stand  off  shore,  or  you  will  be  wrecked  on  a  churn, 
or  lose  your  life  by  being  drowned  in  a  jar  of  cream." 

"  I  am  not  much  of  a  coward,  Nancy,  and  if  I  meet  with 
any  disaster  that  disables  me,  Susie  will  scull  me  ashore 
in  her  skimming  shell." 

"  Not  if  you  talk  naughty  about  me,  and  tell  wrong 
stories,  Commodore." 

Susie  was  in  the  habit  of  calling  her  grandfather  Com 
modore,  when  they  were  fighting  their  sham  battles. 

"  Having  the  Bo'son  under  your  lee,  you  think  you  can 
venture  to  carry  more  sail,  do  you?" 

"  I  can't  carry  this  large  pan  of  sour  milk  to  the  leader. 
Bo'son,  you  please  do  it  for  me  ?" 

The  Bo'son  would  have  carried  the  farm  over  the 
river  if  Susie  had  wished  it,  and  the  moving  of  the  milk- 
pan  was  the  work  of  only  a  moment.  Mr.  Wilson  exam 
ined  the  Bo'son's  butter-pump,  and  asked  where  Julia 
was. 


132 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


"  Thunder  and  marlin-spikes  !  "  exclaimed  the  captain  ; 
"Julia  will  not  '  break  bulk '  before  '  six  bells '  in  the 
forenoon  watch.  I  don't  know  what  time  she  '  turns  in,' 
but  I  know  that  she  never  '  turns  out '  until  near  noon. 
She  is  not  worth  her  weight  in  sour  milk,  and  if  sold 
at  auction  wouldn't  bring  enough  to  pay  freight  and 
charges." 

"  Commodore,  you  stop  talking  about  my  cousin,  or  I 
will  smother  you  in  cream." 

"  Or  with  kisses,"  was  the  captain's  reply. 

"  Julia  is  not  more  to  blame  than  her  father  and  mother ; 
and,  grandfather,  you  are  very  severe  on  poor  Julia." 

While  Susie  was  speaking,  her  black,  bright  eyes  filled 
with  tears,  and  the  captain  noticed  that  her  feelings  were 
touched,  and  he  said  : 

"  Pet,  you  are  over-tender.  I,  too,  pity  Julia,  believing 
that  she  will  have  to  learn  some  severe  lessons  before  she 
leaves  this  world.  Now  let  us  go  to  breakfast,  and  fix  on 
the  plans  of  the  day  while  eating." 

It  was  decided  that  George  should  dispose  of  his  time 
at  his  own  pleasure  during  the  forepart  of  the  day,  and 
that  in  the  afternoon  they  would  have  a  ride  on  the  bank 
of  the  North  river  to  Schuylerville,  and  beyond,  as  the 
road  was  very  fine. 

George  and  the  Bo'son  spent  most  of  the  forenoon  in 
rambling  over  the  farm,  every  acre  of  which  the  Bo'son 
had  made  himself  acquainted  with,  and  could  tell  his 
young  friend  much  about.  From  the  old  residents  the 
Bo'son  had  learned  much  about  the  battle  fought  on  the 
farm,  when  the  freedom  of  the  country  depended,  or  ap 
peared  to  have  depended,  on  the  fate  of  that  battle. 
What  Bill  had  learned  he  imparted  to  Wilson,  and  in  do 
ing  so  deeply  interested  him. 

George  Wilson  had  served  under  the  Bo'son  when  only 
a  boy  on  board  of  the  ship,  and  by  him  been  taught  all 
that  he  knew  of  seamanship.  He  learned  to  respect  the 
Bo'son  first,  and  afterward  to  entertain  for  him  the 
strongest  friendship,  and  when  little  more  than  a  boy, 
Wilson  was  made  an  officer  over  the  Bo'son. 

The  Bo'son  was  proud  of  his  boy  pupil,  respected  and 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  133 

obeyed  him,  as  he  would  one  who  had  been  his  superior 
in  age  and  experience,  as  in  position. 

Bill  Thomas  loved  George  Wilson  next  to  Susie  Morton, 
and  his  love  for  them  was  as  the  love  of  a  father  for  his 
children.  Nothing  could  have  taken  place  in  this  world, 
that  would  have  so  pleased  the  Bo'son,  as  to  have  seen 
his  two  adopted  children  (for  such  he  considered  them) 
united  in  marriage. 

Bill  was  satisfied  that  they  loved  eacL  other,  but  was  in 
a  position  that  he  could  ask  neither  the  question.  Susie 
had  confided  some  secrets  to  his  keeping,  but  that  one 
was  not  among  them.  For  safety,  Susie  could  not  have 
been  more  secure  if  the  secrets  had  been  locked  in  her 
own  bosom.  There  was  never  a  hurricane  hard  enough 
to  have  blown  them  out  of  the  Bo'son's  safe  keeping. 
The  Bo'son,  however,  told  Wilson  that  Frank  Livingston 
had  been  there  on  a  visit,  and  what  took  place  between 
Livingston  and  himself.  He  was  under  no  obligations  to 
keep  that  as  a  secret.  The  Bo'son  did  not  lisp  a  syllable 
of  his  knowledge  gained  from  Susie,  nor  what  he  knew  of 
her  feelings.  He  said,  when  speaking  of  Livingston  : 
"  He  don't  sail  fast  enough  to  overhaul  such  a  trim  clip 
per  as  black-eyed  Susan.  He  will  lose  ground  on  every 
tack,  and  be  hull  down  to  leeward." 

Wilson  fully  understood  that  Frank  Livingston  was  not 
in  his  way ;  but  what  had  he  to  say,  or  what  right  had  he 
to  think  of  anybody's  being  in  his  way  ?  That  he  loved 
Susie,  he  knew  very  well ;  whether  she  loved  him  or  not 
he  had  no  means  of  finding  out.  He  had  nothing  but 
himself  to  offer,  and  therefore  could  not  ask  the  question. 

He  was  young,  with  nothing  but  his  profession  to  de 
pend  upon  for  a  support.  He  was  now  second  officer, 
and  how  long  it  would  take  to  reach  the  command,  was 
more  than  he  could  tell.  He  said :  "  Bo'son,  let  us  return 
to  the  house." 

In  the  afternoon  the  ride  was  taken,  as  it  had  been  pro 
posed.  The  party  consisted  of  the  Captain,  Wilson, 
Susie  and  Julia  ;  the  Captain  driving. 

If  there  is  anything  that  a  sea-captain  loves,  besides 
his  family  and  ship,  it  is  a  good  horse  or  a  pair  of  good 


'34 

horses.  That  love  is  not  exceptional, — it  is  universal, 
unless  the  captain  goes  to  sea  until  he  is  so  old  as  to  be 
incapable  of  loving  anything.  Captain  Waters  loved  his 
family,  his  friends,  his  ship,  and  his  horses  in  a  superla 
tive  degree.  He  loved  and  used  horses  when  a  boy  and 
a  young  man  ;  he  understood  them  and  was  a  good  driver. 
For  his  own  use,  he  would  keep  nothing  but  the  best  of 
stock,  and  on  that  occasion  showed  George  Wilson  that 
he  could  handle  horses,  as  well  as  ships. 

The  party  returned  in  time  for  tea,  and  after  spending 
a  social,  pleasant  evening,  all  retired  to  their  rooms. 
George  Wilson  was  to  leave  the  farm  the  next  afternoon 
for  New  York,  and  to  make  a  voyage  before  he  again 
visited  the  family. 

The  following  day,  and  that  on  which  Wilson  was  to 
leave,  he  and  Susie  took  a  pleasant  walk  up  to  Burgoyne 
Hill,  after  breakfast  and  before  Julia  left  her  bed.  They 
spent  two  hours  in  their  rambles,  and  rested  in  the  shade 
of  the  noble  trees  on  the  hill  ;  but  nothing  was  said  by 
either  that  .the  other  could  construe  into  more  than  an 
expression  of  common  friendship.  As  they  were  walking 
home,  George  said : 

"  We  have  been  so  much  together  when  young,  that  we 
are  like  brother  and  sister,  and  we  shall  not  easily  forget 
each  other." 

"  I  cannot  see  why  we  should  wish  to  do  so,  George. 
You  know  that  grandfather  and  grandmother  look  upon 
you  almost  in  the  light  of  a  child,  and  expect  to  see  you 
here  at  the  end  of  each  voyage,  and  all  the  family  will 
welcome  you  home." 

"  I  can  assure  you  that  I  shall  always  find  a  pleasure  in 
coming." 

They  returned  io  the  house,  took  dinner,  and  in  the 
early  part  of  the  afternoon  George  and  the  Bo'son  had  a 
long  and  earnest  conversation  in  the  Bo'son's  house,  but 
what  it  was  all  about  none  but  themselves  ever  knew. 

The  parting  of  George  Wilson  with  the  family  was  ten 
der  and  affectionate,  but  not  marked  by  any  exhibition  of 
feeling  on  his  part,  or  that  of  Susie,  that  would  have  led 
any  but  such  a  person  as  Julia  to  believe  there  was  a  deep 


AND  SILL,  HIS  gO'SOtf.  135 

fountain  of  pure  love,  if  not  between  them,  somewhere 
very  near.  All  that  Julia  observed  was  an  exchange  of 
looks,  accompanied  by  the  slightest  possible  change  in 
their  faces. 

The  Captain  drove  George  to  the  depot,  and  the  Bo'spn 
by  request  went  with  them,  which  was  observed  by  the 
dog,  and  so  he  concluded  to  make  one  of  the  party,  and 
made  more  noise  about  it  than  all  the  rest. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

JULIA  WRITES  TO  FRANK. 

JULIA  Fizzlebaugh  had  become  fully  satisfied  that 
George  and  Susie  were  deeply  in  love  with  each 
other,  but  whether  there  had  been  any  declaration  or  ad 
mission  of  it  between  them,  she  did  not  know.  She  had 
received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Livingston,  penned  in  such  lan 
guage  as  would  now  warrant  her  in  addressing  him  in 
warmer  and  more  affectionate  terms.  So  far  all  had  been 
as  she  wished,  and  her  only  fears  were  that  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Waters  would  unite  with  the  father  and  mother  of 
Susie  and  persuade  her  to  accept  the  offer  of  Mr.  Livings 
ton,  and  marry  him.  Julia  was  the  only  one  who  knew  of 
the  contemplated  visit  and  its  object,  having  been  in 
formed  of  the  whole  arrangement  by  letters  from  Frank 
Livingston. 

Julia  felt  that  it  would  be  for  her  interest  to  again  write 
Mr.  Livingston,  and  freely  express  her  opinion  in  regard 
to  one  of  the  causes  of  his  being  refused  by  Susie  Morton. 
She  was  determined  to  write  such  a  letter  as  would  first 
touch  his  pride,  and  then,  for  what  she  intended  to  make 
him  believe  she  considered  a  slight  and  positive  contempt, 
deserving  only  his  indifference  or  his  scorn,  to  express  for 
him  so  much  sympathy  that  he  would  be  induced  to  make 
the  offer  to  her,  which  Susie  Morton  had  refused. 

It  is  generally  understood  that  the  assistance  of  a 
mother  or  aunt  is  very  necessary  to  the  successful  carry- 


136  CAPTAM  WATERS 

ing  out  of  a  well  laid  scheme  to  entrap  a  rich  husband, 
but  in  this  case  Julia  attempted  it  single-handed.  The 
prize  was  a  high  one,  and  Julia  felt  that  it  must  be  played 
for. 

Julia  well  knew  that  if  she  failed  in  her  object,  none 
but  herself  would  know  it,  and  that  she  alone  would  have  to 
bear  the  disappointment,  though  she  was  aware  that  such 
a  union  was  desired  by  her  parents  ;  but  they  knew  noth 
ing  about  what  she  was  trying  to  accomplish.  After 
duly  considering  the  matter,  Julia  wrote  the  following 
letter,  differing  materially  in  style  and  in  every  respect 
from  the  first  : 

"  WATERS'SNUG  HARBER,  August  \$th,  185-. 
"  MY  DEAR  MR.  LIVINGSTON  : 

"  Your  last  esteemed  favor  was  received  yesterday,  after 
Mr.  George  Wilson,  a  special  friend  of  the  family,  had 
left  the  house  for  New  York.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  gentleman 
of  uncommonly  fine  appearance,  of  polished  manners  and 
fine  attainments.  He  is  an  officer  on  board  of  the  ship 
formerly  owned  and  commanded  by  Captain  Waters,  who 
took  Mr.  Wilson  to  sea  with  him  on  a  number  of  voyages, 
and  when  old  enough  and  sufficiently  educated,  made 
an  officer  of  him.  Miss  Morton  having  made  several 
voyages  in  the  ship,  she  and  George  are  well  acquainted 
with  each  other,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  tell  which  of 
the  two  is  the  greatest  favorite  in  the  family  of  the  Wa 
ters'.  Mr.  Wilson  having  traveled  extensively,  and  pos 
sessing  great  and  pleasing  powers  of  conversation,  could 
not  fail,  in  relating  what  he  had  seen  abroad,  to  interest 
a  young  lady  with  such  romantic  ideas  as  have  full  sway 
in  the  head  of  my  fair  and  foolish  cousin.  I  mean  fool 
ish  only  in  refusing  your  offer;  and  I  am  now  fully  con 
firmed  in  the  opinion  expressed  in  a  former  letter,  that 
the  only  reason  she  had  for  refusing  you  was,  that  she 
had  no  heart  to  give,  and  without  it  she  would  not  give 
her  hand.  I  saw  at  a  glance  when  the  two  met  that  they 
loved  each  other,  and  had  from  childhood  Mr.  Wilson, 
being  so  great  a  favorite  in  the  family  as  he  is,  you  will 
find  difficulties  to  contend  with,  and  an  opposition  on  the 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  I37 

part  of  the  Waters'  that  the  influence  of  Susie's  parents 
cannot  overcome. 

"  Why,  then,  my  dear  friend,  do  you  seek  after  what  you 
can  never  possess, — the  heart  of  Susie  Morton  ?  Should 
you  succeed,  with  the  influence  of  her  whole  family,  in 
forcing  her  against  her  will  to  marry  you,  you  would  have 
only  her  hand,  not  her  heart.  Would  not  your  pride  and 
self-respect  revolt  at  such  a  union  ?  And  could  you  ex 
pect  to  be  happy  in  it  ? 

"  You  are  alone  in  the  world ;  no  mother,  no  sister  to 
sympathize  with  you  in  your  suffering,  and  I  freely  con 
fess  that  while  I  have  been  watching  Susie,  earnestly  and 
constantly  pleading  with  her  to  change  her  mind,  write 
her  parents,  and  accept  your  offer,  my  feelings  have 
been  so  enlisted  in  your  cause  that  I  have  enjoyed  only 
broken  slumbers,  in  which  I  have  dreamed  that  you  were 
very  miserable. 

"  Susie  will  not  acknowledge  that  she  loves  Mr.  Wilson, 
nor  will  she  admit  that  any  engagement  exists  between 
them.  That  she  loves  him  there  is  no  question,  for  she 
repeats  his  name  in  her  sleep.  In  regard  to  the  engage 
ment,  I  have  no  means  of  finding  out. 

"  As  a  friend,  deeply  interested  in  your  future,  let  me  pre 
sume, — and  it  is  with  great  delicacy  that  I  do, — to  advise 
you  not  to  repeat  the  offer,  but  find  another  lady,  who  has 
a  heart,  and  will  bestow  it  on  you,  and  fully  return  the 
affection  that  you  would  so  freely  give,  and  with  her  be 
happy ;  and  that  such  may  be  your  lot,  you  will  have  the 
prayers  and  wishes  of  one  who  is 

"  Affectionately  and  truly  yours, 

"  JULIA  FIZZLEBAUGH." 

If  such  a  letter  had  been  written  under  better  influ 
ences,  and  for  nobler  purposes,  it  would  have  been  a 
lasting  credit  to  the  writer  ;  but  it  was  not  truthful,  nor 
did  Julia  feel  what  she  expressed  in  the  letter. 

When  Frank  received  the  letter,  he  pondered  long  over 
the  contents  of  it ;  in  the  evening  he  made  a  visit  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Morton.  He  there  learned  the  history  of 
George  Wilson,  and  informed  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  that 


i38  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Mr.  Wilson  had  recently  visited  the  farm,  and  inquired  if 
they  thought  he  was  the  cause  of  Susie's  refusal. 

"  Certainly  not,"  said  Mr.  Morton ;  "  Susie  would  not 
dare  receive  the  addresses  of  any  man  without  my  appro 
bation,  and  certainly  would  not  engage  herself  without 
my  consent.  I  can  assure  you,  Mr.  Livingston,  that 
Susie  will  not  marry  George  Wilson  with  my  consent, 
and  I  haven't  the  least  fear  that  she  will  marry  him 
without  it.  No,  sir,  you  have  nothing  to  apprehend; 
Susie  only  needs  a  little  talking  to,  which  she  will  have  in 
a  few  days,  and  all  will  be  as  you  wish.  You  are  aware 
that  next  week  is  the  time  we  set  for  going  up  to  the 
farm,  and  I  know  enough  of  father  and  mother  Waters, 
to  know  that  they  will  approve  of  the  union,  and  assist 
us  to  overcome  any  slight  objections  that  Susie  may  have 
to  marrying  at  so  early  an  age.  I  think  that  must  be  her 
only  objection.  What  other  can  she  possibly  have?  " 

"  I  know  not,  sir,  unless  Mr.  Wilson  may  have  engaged 
her  affections, — in  which  case  I  should  not  wish  to  inter 
fere,  much  as  I  desire  your  daughter  for  a  wife." 

"  My  daughter  shall  be  your  wife ;  we  have  set  our 
hearts  on  it,  and  it  must  be.  Captain  Waters  will 
highly  approve  of  the  match,  and  what  he  wishes  in  the 
family  generally  takes  place,  and  I  count  on  him  with 
certainty." 

"  I  wish,  Mr.  Morton,  that  all  may  come  to  pass  as  you 
and  I  had  arranged,  and  as  all  of  us  now  wish;  but  I  have 
some  doubts  about  it,  and  will  not  marry  your  daughter 
unless  it  is  with  her  free  and  full  consent." 

"  Of  course  not, — of  course  not,  Mr.  Livingston,"  and 
the  little  party  separated. 

It  was  evident  from  the  manner  and  language  of  Frank 
Livingston  that  the  letter  of  Julia  Fizzlebaugh  was  having 
some  influence  with  him.  It  has  already  been  stated  that 
his  head  was  weak,  but  that  his  heart  was  originally  good. 
His  heart  told  him  in  this  case  that  he  should  make  no 
further  effort  to  become  the  husband  of  Susie  Morton, 
but  his  weak  head  urged  him  on,  that  he  might  win  his 
wagers,  and  not  be  laughed  at  by  some  that  he  called  his 
friends.  He  consoled  himself  with  the  reflection  that  he 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON. 


139 


should  not  have  to  see  Susie  again,  unless  her  parents  and 
friends  arranged  for  their  marriage,  and  then  sent  to  Sara 
toga  Springs  for  him  to  visit  the  farm. 

Under  the  pressure  of  his  feelings,  and  excitement  of  the 
circumstances,  Frank  Livingston  had  indulged  more  freely 
in  the  use  of  wine  than  was  his  custom,  and  under  its 
stimulating  influence  had  risked  and  lost  considerable 
money.  His  fortune,  however,  was  so  ample  that  such 
slight  inroads  did  not  materially  interfere  with  his  finan 
ces,  so  far  as  the  world  knew. 

Could  a  proper  influence  at  that  time  have  been  brought 
to  bear  upon  him,  and  he  have  been  checked  in  his  mad 
and  downward  career,  a  noble  and  generous-hearted 
man  would  have  been  saved  from  ruin.  He  had  entered 
fashionable  society  when  only  a  young  man,  with  a  large 
fortune  at  his  command,  and  no  restraint  upon  his  actions; 
been  surrounded  with  all  the  allurements  put  forth  to 
entice  the  young,  who  have  means  at  their  command,  from 
the  paths  of  virtue  and  rectitude;  and  at  that  time  was 
gradually  falling,  without  being  aware  of  the  fact. 

His  case  was  only  that  of  thousands  in  our  large  cities, 
who  fall  to  rise  no  more  ;  and  young  ladies  are,  indeed 
fortunate  who,  like  Susie  Morton,  are  in  time  apprised 
of  danger,  and  have  the  judgment  and  courage  to  shun  it. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

SUSIE  MORTON  TELLS  THE  CAPTAIN  AND  HIS  WIFE. 

A  FTER  the  visit  of  George  Wilson,  Susie  Morton  at 
/A  times  appeared  to  be  engaged  in  earnest  thought, 
but  not  otherwise  to  be  changed.  She  was  still  an  early 
riser,  and  found  something  about  the  rooms  to  occupy  her 
time  till  her  grandmother  was  ready  to  go  with  her  to  the 
milk-room.  Activity,  order  and  neatness  were  ruling  ele 
ments  in  her  character.  George  Wilson  was  right  when 
he  said  :  "  I  think,  sir,  that  like  the  Bo'son,  Susie  will 
learn  only  what  is  worth  knowing,  and  will  be  useful  when 


140 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


learned.  She  will  excel  in  whatever  she  undertakes." 
The  constant  self  command  that  she  maintained  over  her 
self,  her  activity  and  cheerfulness,  enabled  her  to  hide 
from  others  whatever  feelings  she  possessed,  and  did  not 
wish  to  exhibit. 

Before  leaving  for  the  city,  Susie  Morton  had  deter 
mined  to  learn  from  her  grandmother  all  that  would  in  the 
future  be  useful  to  her  in  housekeeping.  She  did  learn 
much,  not  only  from  her  grandmother,  but  also  from  Lizzie 
and  the  old  steward.  While  her  cousin  Julia  was  sleep 
ing  away  the  morning  and  early  part  of  the  day,  Susie  was 
engaged  in  different  parts  of  the  house,  learning  and  prac 
ticing  housekeeping. 

Captain  Waters  would  sometimes  say  : 

"Susie,  why  don't  Julia  Fizzlebaugh  once  in  a  while  get 
up  in  the  morning,  or  do  something  after  she  does  get 
up?  She  appears  to  have  no  more  life  than  a  mussel." 

"  I  don't  know,  grandpa  ;  it  may  be  she  is  not  fond  of 
early  rising,  and  has  not  been  used  to  it;  you  know  there 
is  a  difference  in  girls  as  well  as  in  men  ?  " 

"Yes,  I  do  know  that;  if  they  were  all  alike,  I  should 
want  them  all  like  you." 

"  You  are  very  partial,  6randpa,  and  Julia's  grandpa 
may  be  equally  partial  towards  her." 

'  If  he  thinks  her  lying  in  bed  till  near  noon  is  smart, 
and  recommends  other  young  ladies  to  follow  her  exam 
ple,  I  wouldn't  trust  him  to  command  a  small  sloop,  as  I 
should  be  sure  he  would  run  her  ashore  for  want  of  good 
judgment." 

"  You  mustn't  be  severe  on  my  poor  cousin,  grandpa, 
because  she  has  not  been  well  trained,  and  has  grown  up 
with  false  notions  of  life  and  its  duties." 

"  I  would  be  severe,  and  I  would  train  her  if  she  was 
under  my  control, — yes,  I  would  for  certain.  I  would  throw 
a  bucketfull  of  cold  water  into  her  bed  every  morning, 
time  enough  for  her  to  get  up  and  dress  before  the  break 
fast  hour.  If  she  didn't  get  up  with  that,  after  one  or  two 
trials,  I  would  throw  a  bucketfull  of  hot  water  into  her 
bed,  and  that  would  fetch  her." 

"  O  !  grandpa,  dont  talk  so;  you  wouldn't  have  the  heart 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  "SON. 


141 


tt>  do  it,  I  am  sure  you  wouldn't,  because  you  are  such  a 
good  dear  grandpa." 

•'  Wouldn't  I  have  the  heart  to  do  it  ?  Did  you  ever 
know  me  not  to  have  the  courage  to  do  my  duty,  or  know 
of  my  failing  to  do  a  good  act  when  I  had  an  opportunity? 
It  would  do  Julia  an  amazing  sight  of  good  to  teach  her 
that  she  was  not  created  to  be  waited  on,  and  do  nothing 
herself." 

"  She  may  out-grow  or  out-live  her  false  ideas,  perhaps, 
grandpa." 

"  She  may  outlive  her  notions  and  habits;  and  I  hope 
she  will.  I  never  wish  anything  but  good  to  people,  and 
I  don't  to  Julia,  but  I  hope  the  time  will  come  when  she 
will  have  to  get  up  in  the  morning,  earn  the  money,  go 
out  and  buy  her  breakfast,  and  then  go  home  and  cook  it 
before  she  has  anything  to  eat." 

"  O  !  what  a  severe  and  naughty  grandpa  I  have." 

"  No,  my  dear  child,  I  am  not  naughty,  and  I  am  not 
severe.  Julia,  as  she  is,  is  worthless, — knows  nothing  that 
she  should  know  ;  could  not  cook  a  meal  for  a  husband, 
if  she  had  one ;  could  not  even  make  him  a  cup  of  coffee, 
or  do  the  least  thing  about  the  house  ;  never  leaves  her 
bed  before  noon  or  near  it ;  has  not  for  years  taken  break 
fast  with  the  family.  Of  what  use  would  such  a  wife  be 
to  a  man  ?  Your  grandmother,  a  few  days  since,  asked 
her  to  set  the  tea-table,  just  to  see  what  she  would  do. 
She  kept  a  book  in  one  hand,  and  continued  to  read 
something  that  she  was  interested  in  ;  didn't  know  what 
dishes  to  put  on,  or  where  to  place  them ;  let  some  fall,  and 
they  were  broken,  and  your  grandmother  then  desired 
her  to  give  it  up,  which  she  did.  What  her  father  and 
mother  have  been  thinking  about,  is  more  than  I  can  tell. 
They  have  nothing  in  the  way  of  property  in  this  world 
but  Julia,  and  the  more  one  has  of  such  personal  property, 
the  worse  off  they  are." 

"  Oh,  grandpa!  Julia  may  marry  and  do  well,  after  all; 
and  now  we  have  been  talking  a  long  while,  and  it  is 
time  to  retire  ;  "  so  kissing  both  grandparents,  and  saying 
"  good  night,"  Susie  left  the  sitting-room. 

Susie  Morton  had  her  own  deep,  secret  thoughts,  her 


,42  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

own  sorrows  and  burdens  to  bear,  and  did  bear  them, 
notwithstanding  her  constant  apparent  cheerfulness,  and 
it  was  only  when  she  was  alone  that  she  fully  indulged  in 
her  own  feelings.  She  loved  her  parents,  and  she  loved 
George  Wilson  ;  she  believed  George  loved  her,  though 
he  had  never  told  her  so.  Susie  learned  from  a  young 
lady  friend  at  Saratoga  that  Mr.  Livingston  had  spent 
most  of  the  time  in  New  York  since  he  left  the  farm,  and 
she  concluded  that  some  arrangement  had  been  entered 
into  between  Mr.  Livingston  and  her  parents  in  regard 
to  herself,  and  expected  that  her  father  and  mother 
might  soon  be  at  the  farm,  and  then  would  come  her  final 
struggle. 

With  one  like  Susie  Morton,  who  was  always  so  un 
willing  to  give  pain  to  any  one,  the  thought  that  she  must 
soon  act  against  the  wishes  of  her  father  and  mother 
was  extremely  painful  to  her,  and  gladly  would  she  have 
made  very  great  sacrifices  to  avoid  it,  but  could  not  con 
sent  to  sacrifice  her  future  happiness,  and  marry  Frank 
Livingston. 

Since  Frank  was  at  the  Farm,  Julia  had  been  very  re 
served,  and  there  was  not  that  close  communion  that  was 
desired  by  Susie  ;  but  with  all  her  efforts  to  induce  Julia 
to  be  free  and  communicative  to  her,  she  could  not  suc 
ceed,  and  at  last  gave  it  up. 

Susie  had  talked  freely  with  the  Bo'son  in  regard  to 
her  feelings,  always  excepting  her  love  for  George  Wilson  ; 
and  the  Bo'son  wisely  advised  her,  saying: 

"  Tell  the  captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  all  about  the  mat 
ter,  and  they  will  give  you  a  course  to  steer  by  that 
will  take  you  clear  of  all  difficulties  and  dangers, — that 
is  the  Bo'son's  advice,  morning-glory." 

After  retiring  to  her  room,  Susie  sat  and  thought  a 
long  time  before  she  went  to  bed,  and  after  being  in  bed 
it  was  long  before  she  could  sleep,  but  before  closing 
her  eyes  in  slumber,  she  had  fully  determined  that  in 
the  morning  she  would  acquaint  her  grandparents  with 
her  fears  and  wishes. 

In  the  morning,  after  breakfast,  when  the  three  had 
retired  to  the  sitting-room,  Susie  went  and  sat  on  her 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  I43 

grandpa's  knee  (not  an  uncommon  thing  with  her),  and 
putting  her  arms  around  his  neck,  gave  him  a  kiss,  at 
the  same  time  saying : 

"  Grandpa,  do  you  really  love  the  girl  you  call  '  pet  ?  ' ' 

"Yes,  if  I  ever  loved  anyone.  Why  do  you,  with 
such  a  serious  face,  ask  ?  " 

"  Do  you  really  love  me,  too,  grandma  ?  " 

"  Why,  certainly,  child.  What  in  the  world  is  the  mat 
ter,  that  you  look  so  sad  ? " 

"  Would  you  both  help  me,  if  I  was  in  trouble  and 
needed  assistance?" 

"  Help  you  ?  yes  ;  and  have  the  Bo'son  pipe  all  hands 
to  help  you,"  said  Captain  Waters.  "What  can  trouble 
our  Susie  ? " 

Mrs.  Waters  had  laid  down  her  work,  taken  off  her 
glasses,  and  appeared  interested  and  alarmed.  After 
watching  Susie  closely  for  a  moment,  to  be  sure  that  she 
was  in  earnest,  she  said  : 

"  Susie,  my  darling,  whatever  trouble  you  anticipate,  or 
has  reached  you,  tell  us  freely  and  fully,  and  we  will  help 
and  shield  you." 

"  It  is  such  trouble,  and  coming  from  such  a  source  as 
you  little  expect ;  and  I  shall  indeed  need  all  the  aid  you 
can  give  me." 

"  Has  none  of  it  actually  come  upon  you  yet  ? "  asked 
the  captain. 

"No,  grandpa;  not  actually  come  yet,  but  very  near." 

"  Then  let  it  come,  and  we'll  be  ready  for  it,  no  matter 
which  way  it  comes  from  ;  but  tell  us  all  about  it,  pet." 

"  Frank  Livingston  wants  to  marry  me,  and  my  father 
and  mother  are  determined  to  make  me  marry  him,  against 
my  own  wishes,  if  possible." 

Here  Susie  broke  completely  down,  and  laid  her  head 
on  her  grandfather's  shoulder. 

"Thunder  and  jews-harps ! "  exclaimed  the  captain. 
"  I  would  sooner  see  all  three  top-masts  go  by  the  board  ; 
yes,  lower-masts  and  all,  every  spar  over  the  side  of  the 
ship,  and  have  nothing  but  the  hull  left,  than  see  you  the 
wife  of  Frank  Livingston,  my  little  singing  bird.  I  swear 
by  every  point  in  the  compass,  and  by  the  north  star,  it 
shall  not  be." 


I44  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  Joseph  !  Joseph  Waters !  be  calm ;  don't  get  excited. 
I  am  surprised,"  said  the  good  wife. 

"  Lightning  greased !  talk  to  me  about  being  calm,  when 
such  a  fellow  as  Livingston  is  after  Susie,  and  her  father 
and  mother  helping  him.  Where  is  the  Bo'son  and  dog  ? " 

"  Joseph  Waters,  be  calm,  and  be  yourself  again.  This 
is  not  a  time  for  raising  a  breeze ;  you  want  your  judg 
ment  on  this  occasion.  I  have  not  heard  you  use  such 
language,  or  similar  expressions,  in  many  years.  As  no 
danger  has  yet  come,  now  we  know  all  about  it,  we  can 
take  care  of  our  Susie  when  it  does  come,  and  no  harm 
shall  befall  her." 

"  Nancy,  you  have  been  a  great  help  to  me  for  many 
years,  and  when  I  get  into  these  tornadoes,  you  could  al 
ways  bring  me  safely  out  of  them.  You  are  a  dear,  good 
old  girl ;  and  if  you  and  I,  the  Bo'son,  steward,  Lizzie, 
and  the  dog  can't  protect  our  pet,  then  let  the  ship  and 
farm  go  ashore,  and  be  wrecked."  So,  have  no  more 
fears,  Susie;  you  are  safe  with  us." 

"  Yes,  Joseph ;  she  is  perfectly  safe  with  us,  and  while 
we  live  shall  never  marry  Frank  Livingston." 

"  Susie,"  said  her  grandfather,  "  if  you  can't  get  any 
better  man  than  he  is  for  a  husband,  live  single ;  stay  with 
us, — that  is  better.  You  will  be  taken  care  of  while  we 
live,  and  before  I  die  I'll  take  care  that  you  are  provided 
for  after  that  takes  place." 

Susie  had  become  perfectly  calm,  and  fully  herself 
again,  after  finding  that  she  would  have  the  help  and  pro 
tection  of  her  grand-parents,  and  felt  that  all  would  be 
well.  Susie  told  them  that  she  thought  her  father  and  mother 
would  soon  be  at  the  farm,  and  wished  them  not  to  men 
tion  this  conversation,  but  to  act  as  though  ignorant  of 
the  whole  matter,  saying: 

"  That  will  be  best  ;  and  please  don't  tell  Julia.  I  have 
now  nothing  to  fear,  and  am  perfectly  happy,  and  ready 
for  what  may  come.  I  love  father  and  mother,  and  they 
love  me  ;  but  they  have  some  peculiar  notions  about  old 
families.  I  was  afraid  you  would  side  with  them.  I 
ought  to  have  known  better.  I  thank  you,  and  love  you 
more  than  ever." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON. 


145 


"We  know  you  love  us,  and  you  needn't  thank  us, 
dear,"  said  the  grandmother. 

Bill's  whistle  was  heard,  a  signal  that  he  wanted  his 
captain,  and  the  captain  left. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

CAPTAIN  WATERS  IS  BETTER  INFORMED,  AND  TALKS  WITH 
THE   BO'SON. 

WHEN  Captain  Waters  returned  to  the  sitting-room, 
every  shade  of  sadness  had  passed  from  the  face  of 
Susie  Morton.  She  had  related  to  her  grandmother  all 
that  passed  between  herself  and  Mr.  Livingston,  also  what 
she  knew  of  his  character  and  habits,  and  then  said  that 
it  was  impossible,  under  any  circumstances,  for  her  to 
become  his  wife. 

Mrs.  Waters,  exercising  her  sound  judgment  and  good 
common  sense,  combined  with  her  mildness  and  love  for 
Susie,  had  succeeded  in  fully  restoring  her  to  cheerful 
ness,  so  that  when  the  Captain  returned,  had  he  not  been 
present  earlier  in  the  morning,  he  would  not  have  sup 
posed  from  appearances  that  any  unusual  affair  had  dis 
turbed  or  distressed  his  pet  grandchild.  His  ruffled 
feelings  and  appearance  had  also  been  quieted  down,  and 
he  was  fully  himself  again. 

Captain  Waters,  having  been  put  in  possession  of  some 
general  knowledge,  wanted  all  the  particulars,  and  seeing 
that  Susie  was  in  a  proper  state  of  mind  to  impart  them 
without  distressing  herself,  asked  for  them,  and  Susie 
related  them  to  him  as  she  had  to  her  grandmother. 
When  she  had  spoken  of  his  character  and  habits,  the 
Captain  said  to  her: 

"  Susie,  how  did  you  learn  what  you  know  about  him?" 

"  Do  you  remember  Maria,  my  governess  and  teacher, 
grandpa? " 

"  Certainly,  what  of  her?  " 

"  She  has  a  brother,  a  very  smart  young  man,  and  being 

7 


I46  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

an  American  and  well  educated,  he  can  assume  and  per 
sonate  almost  any  character.  Knowing  long  since  the 
feelings  and  wishes  of  my  parents  in  regard  to  marrying 
Frank  Livingston,  I  was  anxious  to  know  what  his  habits 
were,  and  how  he  spent  his  time,  so  I  furnished  the 
money,  and  Maria's  brother  made  his  acquaintance,  and 
kept  his  company  occasionally  for  months.  John  is  only 
a  little  over  twenty,  and  was  represented  as  a  young  man 
who  would  come  into  possession  of  a  large  fortune  when 
of  age,  consequently  he  found  no  difficulty  in  being  re 
ceived  at  the  places  frequented  by  Frank.  John  was  smart 
enough  not  to  spend  much  money,  as  he  thought  his  sister 
furnished  it  all  herself,  and  will  never  know  why  she 
wanted  the  information.  All  this  must  be  a  secret  from 
my  father  and  mother, — and,  indeed,  from  every-one  else." 

"  You  are  a  wonderful  woman  for  one  of  your  age;  but 
why  did  you  not  tell  some  of  the  family,  Susie?"  asked 
her  grandfather." 

"  I  did;  I  told  Bill  Thomas,  the  Bo'son." 

"  And  what  did  the  Bo'son  offer  to  do,  and  what  advice 
did  he  give  ?  I  don't  believe  any  other  girl  in  the  world 
but  yourself  would  have  gone  to  a  ship's  Bo'son  for  ad 
vice  in  a  love  affair.  He  is  good  at  every  other  thing, 
and  may  be  good  at  that." 

"  The  Bo'son  offered  to  do  anything  and  everything, 
and  among  others,  that  if  nothing  better  would  do,  he 
would  have  old  Bose  take  Mr.  Livingston  into  the  middle 
of  the  river,  and  hold  his  head  under  water  until  he  would 
never  think  about  a  wife  again."  Here  Susie  indulged 
in  one  of  her  old-fashioned  joyous  laughs,  in  which  she 
was  joined  by  the  Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters.  Susie  then 
continued. 

"The  Bo'son  watched  Mr.  Livingston  very  closely  all 
the  time  he  was  here,  and  always  had  the  dog  with  him, 
to  be  used  if  necessary."  At  this  stage  of  the  narrative 
Susie  again  indulged  in  one  of  her  laughs,  and  then  went  on; 

"  The  Bo'son  all  the  time  advised  me  to  do  just  what  I 
at  last  did, — go  and  tell  you  all  about  it,  and  having  done 
so,  my  mind  is  easy,  and  I  am  free  from  apprehension." 

"You  have  done  just  right,  and  not  at  first  wishing  to 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SON.  I47 

tell  us,  the  Bo'son  was  the  next  best  one  to  tell,  for  he  has 
a  heart  as  large  as  an  ox,  and  as  warm  as  the  sunny  side  of 
a  building  in  a  summer  day.  But  isn't  it  funny, — the  old 
Bo'son  appealed  to  in  a  love  affair  ?  "  and  the  Captain 
came  near  choking  with  laughter. 

"  Joseph,  take  care,  or  you  will  go  off  in  one  of  those 
spells  some  day,"  said  the  wife. 

"  Let  me  alone,  Nancy,  I  can't  help  it,  I  must  have  it 
out,  because  there  is  fun  in  it." 

"Yes,  Joseph  ;  but  a  man  of  your  years  should  have 
discretion."  While,  with  assumed  gravity,  Mrs.  Waters 
had  to  make  a  great  effort  to  prevent  herself  from  joining 
in  the  laugh.  Susie  did  join  and  heartily  so. 

"  Discretion,  mother;  who  ever  heard  of  such  a  thing  in 
a  love  matter  ?  " 

All  of  them  having  arisen  from  their  seats,  Captain 
Waters  picked  Susie  up  in  his  arms,  and  trotted  around 
the  room  with  her  as  though  she  was  an  infant,  and  then 
giving  her  a  good  kissing,  sat  her  in  an  easy-chair  and 
left,  laughing  loud  enough  to  be  heard  all  over  the  farm. 

Captain  Waters  went  directly  to  the  Bo'son's  house, 
where  he  found  Bill,  and  seizing  him  with  one  hand  laid 
the  other  heavily  on  his  shoulder,  making  an  attempt  to 
shake  him,  and  with  equal  success  might  have  attempted 
to  shake  a  church;  at  length  the  Captain  said  : 

"  You  old  sea-shell,  you!  I  have  a  great  mind  to  hang 
you  at  the  yard-arm,  or  set  old  'butts'  at  you  again." 

Bill  knew  his  Captain  too  well  not  to  perceive  that  he 
was  in  extra  good  spirits,  and  answered  : 

"What,  sir,  has  the  old  Bo'son  done  that  he  should 
swing  at  the  yard-arm,  or  have  old  *  butts '  at  him  ?  You 
can  hang  me,  sir,  if  you  wish,  but  you  can  never  persuade 
that  ram  to  butt  the  Bo'son  again.  I  soaked  all  the  butts 
out  of  him,  and  if  I  hadn't  I  would  like  the  hanging  best" 

"  What  have  you  been  doing  that  you  should  be  hung 
or  butted  ?  You  have  been  interfering  in  a  love  affair  be 
tween  Susie  and  Mr.  Livingston."" 

"  Livingston  be " 

"  Hold  on,  Bo'son;  remember  your  promise  when  I 
brought  you  to  the  farm,  not  to  swear." 


I4g  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  I  remember  it  all  the  time,  sir,  and  I  don't  swear;  but 
Livingston  be  tarred  and  slushed, — he  isn't  worth  salting, 
or  being  butted  by  a  respectable  ram ;  but  wouldn't  I 
like  to  see  old  '  butts '  at  him  once,  just  for  the  fun  of  it. 
I'ould  never  soak  him  for  it." 

"  Bo'son,  Mr.  Livingston  shouldn't  be  injured  for  want 
ing  Susie  for  a  wife, — everybody  wants  her  that  knows  her, 
and  why  shouldn't  they  ?  '  She  is  buift  of  good  timber 
and  well  modeled.'  There  are  few  like  her." 

•There  was  a  respect  that  the  Bo'son  felt  was  due  his 
captain,  that  he  never  failed  to  pay.  It  may  have  been 
from  long  habit,  but  whatever  it  was,  no  familiarity  on 
the  part  of  Captain  Waters  could  prevent  Bill  from  pay 
ing  it.  The  Bo'son  stood  before  his  captain,  with  his  hat 
in  his  hand,  as  he  would  have  done  in  the  cabin  of  the 
ship  "  Neptune." 

"  After  all,  sir,  Mr.  Livingston  is  not  to  blame  for 
loving  black-eyed  Susan,  but  he  is  to  blame  for  insisting 
on  marrying  her  after  she  had  told  him  that  she  didn't 
love  him,  and  wouldn't  marry  him." 

"  What  did  you  do  about  it,  Bo'son,  when  you  found  it 
out  ?  " 

"When,  sir,  I  saw  black-eyed  Susan  with  her  colors 
half-mast,  union  down,  I  knew  she  was  in  distress;  so  I 
hoisted  the  big-jib,  filled  away,  went  alongside  and  aboard, 
and  offered  assistance." 

"  Well,  Bo'son,  how  were  you  able  to  render  assistance  ?" 

"  By  keeping  a  good  look-out,  and  sailing  most  of  the 
time  between  her  and  the  enemy." 

"  Did  you  say  anything  to  Mr.  Livingston  about  it  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  not  until  he  first  spoke  to  me,  and  asked  me 
what  I  thought  of  Miss  Morton;  and  I  soon  told  him 
what  I  thought  of  her,  and  I  would  just  liked  to 
have  had  the  same  chance  to  have  given  my  opinion  of 
him.  He  wanted  to  give  me  money,  and  that  I  declined  ; 
then  he  wanted  me  to  look  out  that  no  unsuitable  person 
married  and  run  off  with  her.  That  I  promised,  and  if  Bill 
Thomas  ever  breaks  a  promise,  that  will  not  be  the  one." 

"Bo'son,  these  family  affairs  must  be  stowed  snug 
away,  and  not  be  overhauled." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  I49 

"  I  know  that,  sir ;  and  the  Bo'son  don't  blow  his  call 
without  orders.  I  am  off  duty  now, — you  are  on  deck, — ex 
cept  to  obey  orders.  I  told  the  morning-glory  that  if 
she  would  only  let  you  and  Mrs.  Waters  look  over  her 
log-book,  you  would  give  her  the  correct  course  to  steer." 

"  You  did  all  right,  Bo'son ;  and  though  you  have  had 
but  little  experience  in  such  matters,  you  couldn't  have 
done  better.  I  don't  expect  much  trouble  with  Susie's 
father  and  mother,  but  there  will  be  nothing  for  you  to 
do.  There  is  good  timber  in  Mr.  Morton, — though  a  little 
sappy  on  the  outside  he  is  sound  in  the  heart,  and  so  is  his 
wife ;  but  their  compass  is  a  little  out  of  order,  and  they 
are  out  of  their  true  course.  After  overhauling  their 
reckoning,  they  will  see  where  the  error  is,  and  rectify 
their  mistake.  One  thing  is  certain, — Susie  will  never 
marry  Mr.  Livingston." 

"  Hurrah  !  hurrah  !  "  shouted  the  Bo'son. 

"  Bo'son,  keep  quiet." 

<l  Aye,  aye,  sir,  but  it's  hard  work."  , 

Captain  Waters  said,  "  You  are  a  soft-hearted  old  fool, 
Bill  Thomas,"  and  left. 

When  he  was  gone,  the  Bo'son  remarked  to  himself : 
"  That  is  one  of  the  best  men  that  ever  walked  a  ship's 
deck." 


CHAPTER   XXXI. 

WELCOME  GOODWIN  AND  THE  STEWARD. 

WELCOME  Goodwin    having  expressed  a   desire  to 
talk  with  the  old  steward,  and  by  the  steward  hav 
ing  been  invited  to  call  at  the  farm  and  at  his  room,  soon 
after  his  first  visit  and  conversation  with   the    Bo'son, 
found  an  opportunity  of  doing  so. 

When  friend  Goodwin  called,  the  steward  was  in  his 
room,  engaged  in  writing  up  some  accounts.  The 
steward  received  the  caller  with  an  ease  and  grace  that 
could  not  have  been  excelled  by  the  most  accomplished 


I50  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

of  gentlemen.  His  politeness  consisted  not  only  in  his 
language  and  expressions,  but  in  every  act  and  move 
ment. 

Welcome  Goodwin,  though  a  member  and  minister  in 
the  society  of  Friends,  and  a  plain  farmer  in  the  country, 
had  traveled  extensively  in  the  United  States,  both  north 
and  south,  in  the  capacity  of  an  individual  and  in  that 
of  a  minister,  often  having  felt  that  he  was  called  to  visit 
other  lands  than  that  in  which  he  dwelt,  to  proclaim  the 
glad  tidings  of  great  joy  to  all  who  would  believe  and 
obey  the  Lord  and  Master.  He  had  for  many  years 
mingled  freely  with  the  best  and  most  refined  society  ; 
was  liberal  in  his  own  views,  a  good  judge  of  real  and 
assumed  character,  and  possessed  the  secret  and  Heaven- 
given  power  of  finding  and  unlocking  the  door  of  a 
heart,  however  securely  it  might  be  barred  against  the 
entrance  of  others. 

After  the  usual  salutations  of  meeting  had  been  passed, 
friend  Goodwin  opgned  the  conversation  by  saying : 

"  Steward,  I  have  called  because  I  have  felt  very  de 
sirous  of  doing  so  after  my  short  visit  to  thy  room,  late 
in  the  afternoon  of  one  day  last  week,  after  spending  a 
couple  of  hours  in  the  house  of  the  Bo'son.  I  then  felt 
that  thou  wert  one  who  hast  seen  much  of  the  world,  and 
filled  places  different  from  the  one  thou  art  now  filling, 
and  I  have  felt  a  secret  desire  to  know  more  of  thy  life 
and  wanderings  about  the  world,  than  I  am  now  possessed 
of;  that  is,  if  thou  canst  communicate  freely  with  me, 
and  not  lacerate  thy  own  feelings.  Let  me  say  to  thee, 
steward,  that  it  is  with  feelings  of  friendship  that  I  ask 
for  what  information  thou  mayest  feel  at  liberty  to  give, 
because  thou  seemest  to  me  to  have  been  prepared  by 
education  and  habit  for  a  higher  position  in  life  than 
thou  now  occupiest." 

"  Perhaps,  Mr.  Goodwin,  you  do  not  fully  comprehend 
the  position  that  I  occupy  ?  " 

"  That  is  very  likely,  steward.  Finding  thee  in  a  room 
furnished  as  this  is,  not  only  with  every  comfort,  but  I  may 
truly  say  with  all  the  luxuries  that  a  large  room  like  this 
could  possible  hold,  I  must  conclude  that  thou  art  indeed 


AND  BILL,  HIS  B0y  SON  !5I 

something  more  than  a  man  hired  to  cook  on  a  farm, 
though  that  is  honorable  if  faithfully  performed,  and 
wouldn't  lessen  thee  in  my  esteem." 

The  steward  had  been  in  the  company  of  many  of  the 
society  of  which  Mr.  Goodwin  was  a  member,  besides  he 
was  a  highly  educated  man.  Consequently  he  fully  un 
derstood  the  plain  language  of  the  Scriptures ;  and  who 
that  is  educated  and  reads  them  does  not  ? 

"  It  is  true,  Mr.  Goodwin,  that  I  am  something  besides 
the  cook  in  a  farm  kitchen,  though  I  do  cook  some, 
yes,  many  of  the  dishes  eaten  at  the  table,  and  so  does 
Mrs.  Waters.  There  is  nothing  in  my  life,  character  or 
history  that  may  not  be  told — nothing  that  I  am  unwill 
ing  to  communicate,  and  yet  nothing  that  I  am  anxious 
that  the  world  should  know,  because  the  world  has  no 
special  interest  in  me  ;  but  as  you  have  expressed  a  wish 
to  be  informed,  and  appear  to  feel  some  interest  in  ob 
taining  the  knowledge,  I  will  impart  it." 

"  In  doing  so  thou  wilt  very  much  oblige  me,  and  thy 
best  way  will  be  to  give  it  as  though  thou  wert  writing  a 
history  of  thy  life." 

"That  will  be  the  easiest  and  best  way,"  said  the 
steward. 

THE  STEWARD'S  ACCOUNT  OF  HIMSELF. 

"  I  was  born  on  the  island  of  Cuba.  My  father  was  a 
French  gentleman  and  a  merchant.  My  mother  a  native 
of  the  island,  and  my  grandmother  on  my  mother's  side 
was  an  imported  African,  said  to  have  been  a  princess  in 
her  own  country.  My  grandfather  on  my  mother's  side 
was  also  a  Frenchman.  So  that  I  have  far  more  French 
than  African  blood  in  my  veins." 

"  I  should  judge  so  from  thy  complexion,"  observed 
Mr.  Goodwin  ;"for  thou  art  as  light  as  some  who  claim  to 
be  all  white;  but  continue,  if  thou  pleases." 

"  I  remained  at  home  with  my  parents  until  I  was 
twelve  years  old.  Our  residence  was  a  few  miles  from 
the  city  of  Havana,  in  which  city  my  father  was  engaged 
in  business.  In  the  family  was  spoken  the  French  and 


,52  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Spanish  languages.  My  mother  was  well  educated,  and 
perfectly  understood  both  languages.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  years  I  was  sent  to  England,  and  there  placed  in 
school.  Up  to  that  time  I  had  received  all  my  instruc 
tion  from  private  tutors,  and  in  my  father's  house. 

"  It  was  my  father's  wish  that  I  should  receive  a  thor 
ough  English  education,  and  be  able  to  speak  that  lan 
guage  fluently  and  properly.  I  remained  in  England  four 
years,  and  then  returned  to  Cuba,  where  I  spent  one 
year ;  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  I  was  sent  to  Ger 
many,  and  there  attended  school  for  two  years.  From 
Germany  I  went  to  France,  and  completed  my  French 
education,  occupying  for  that  purpose  two  years.  It  was 
in  France  that  I  learned  to  cook,  and  I  acquired  the 
knowledge  more  for  amusement,  than  for  any  other  pur 
pose.  Four  of  us  who  were  attending  the  University  en 
gaged  a  celebrated  cook,  and  each  of  us,  for  amusement 
or  some  other  senseless  motive,  learned  the  art  of  cook 
ing,  which  when  once  learned  thoroughly,  can  never  be 
forgotten. 

"  After  leaving  the  university,  with  such  an  education 
as  few  are  fortunate  enough  to  acquire,  at  my  father's  re 
quest  I  traveled  for  one  year  in  Europe  and  in  England, 
and  then  returned  home,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years. 
My  father,  then  a  wealthy  merchant,  left  it  with  me  to 
choose  an  occupation.  I  decided  to  become  a  merchant, 
and  went  into  my  father's  counting-house,  where  I  studied 
commerce,  and  conducted  the  correspondence  of  the 
house  in  the  four  languages  of  which  I  was  master.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-six  I  became  a  partner  in  the  house, 
and  married.  Six  .years  afterwards,  I  went  to  France, 
and.it  being  found  advantageous  for  me  to  remain  there, 
I  sent  for  my  wife  and  three  children." 

Here  the  steward  paused,  appeared  to  be  deeply  exer 
cised  in  feeling,  and  wiped  a  moisture  from  his  forehead, 
and  also  from  his  eyes.  Welcome  Goodwin  was  far  too 
familiar  with  the  workings  of  the  mind  and  the  well- 
springs  of  the  heart,  to  urge  the  steward  on  with  his  his 
tory,  knowing  that  after  a  little  reflection,  when  the  keen 
ness  of  his  feeling,  that  had  been  sharpened  by  calling  to 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SON.  x^ 

mind  the  past  had  subsided,  that  he  would  proceed  of 
his  own  accord.  After  sitting  in  silence  a  little  while,  the 
steward  went  on  by  saying  : 

"  Mr.  Goodwin,  I  am  now  coming  to  the  most  painful 
period  of  my  life,  which  had  such  an  influence  over 
my  actions  as  to  change  my  course  and  destiny  in  the 
world.  By  some  unexpected  reverses  and  convulsions  in 
the  commercial  world,  the  house  of  which  my  father  was 
the  head,  failed ;  the  ship  in  which  my  family  had  sailed 
for  France  to  join  me  was  lost  at  sea,  with  all  on  board. 
A  few  months  later  my  father  died  with  a  broken  heart, 
and  my  mother  soon  followed  him  to  the  grave.  I  found 
myself  in  a  foreign  country,  with  only  a  small  sum  of 
money  at  my  command,  was  taken  immediately  sick,  and 
so  remained  for  nearly  a  year.  When  I  recovered,  I 
found  myself  entirely  destitute  of  money,  and  at  that 
time  Captain  Waters  arrived  in  Havre,  where  we  met  in 
one  of  the  streets. 

"  Captain  Waters  had  known  and  done  business  with 
our  house  at  Havana,  and  often  been  at  my  father's 
home.  The  captain  had  also  known  me,  for  we  were  then 
both  of  us  much  younger  than  we  are  now,  as  that  was 
over  twenty-three  years  ago.  Captain  Waters  offered  me 
all  the  assistance  I  required,  and  being  bound  to  China, 
invited  me  to  make  the  voyage  with  him,  and  I  accepted 
the  invitation.  At  his  request,  I  took  charge  of  his 
books  and  accounts,  and  with  my  knowledge  of  languages, 
was  able  to  render  him  what  he  considered  valuable  as 
sistance.  I  made  a  second  voyage  with  him  as  clerk,  for 
even  at  that  time  he  generally  owned  the  cargo  and  the 
ship.  On  the  second  voyage,  the  steward  died  on  the 
homeward  passage,  and  I  volunteered  to  fill  his  place,  as 
no  other  person  in  the  ship  could. 

"  In  the  two  voyages  I  had  been  restored  to  health, 
and  somewhat  risen  above  my  misfortunes,  but  not  fully, 
nor  shall  I  ever.  Since  that  time,  I  have  sailed  with 
Captain  Waters  as  his  head  steward  and  book-keeper. 
My  duties  have  been  light  and  pleasant.  A  few  years 
after  my  misfortunes,  I  visited  Havana,  and  found  some 
property  belonging  to  me,  which  I  converted  into  cash 


,54  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

and  invested  in  this  country,  and  to  that  sum  I  have 
yearly  made  additions,  until  I  have  enough  to  take  care 
of  me  in  age,  sick  or  well.  For  many  years  I  have 
had  charge  of  Captain  Waters'  books,  and  much  of  his 
personal  property,  received  and  paid  out  his  money, 
and  he  seldom  knows  how  much  I  have  on  hand.  At 
times  I  have  had  in  that  iron  safe,  on  board  of  the 
ship,  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  gold  at  a  time.  I  am  the 
only  person,  except  Mrs.  Waters,  who  knows  how  much 
property  the  captain  is  worth,  and  where  it  is. 

"  What  I  do  for  the  Captain  is  from  choice  and  not  ne 
cessity,  and  for  the  esteem  I  have  for  him  and  Mrs. 
Waters.  I  believe  he  bought  this  farm  to  keep  the  family 
together, — that  is,  the  Bo'son,  Lizzie  and  myself.  This 
furniture  and  these  books  are  my  property,  and  are 
here  to  gratify  my  taste  and  pleasure.  Since  I  have 
been  sailing  with  the  Captain,  and  certainly  since  Mrs. 
Waters  has  been  making  all  the  voyages  with  us,  I  have 
been  happier  than  I  ever  expected  to  be,  and  have  no  desirt 
to  leave  them;  and  now,  sir,  you  have  my  whole  history." 

"  I  thank  thee,  steward,  and  assure  thee  that  I  have 
been  very  much  interested.  I  thought  it  singular  if  friend 
Waters  furnished  a  room  like  this  for  thee ;  but  if  the 
furniture  is  thine,  that  is  another  affair." 

"  Mr.  Goodwin,  Captain  Waters  wished  me  to  select  it, 
and  pay  for  it  with  his  money,  but  I  preferred  it  other 
wise." 

"Well,  well;  you  sea-faring  people  are  a  wonderful 
people,  bound  to  each  other  by  some  strange  and  mys 
terious  tie  that  landsmen  will  never  comprehend.  So  let 
me  again  thank  thee,  and  say  farewell,  for  it  is  getting  late 
in  the  afternoon." 

"  Good-bye,  sir;  call  again  when  convenient,"  said  the 
Steward,  as  they  shook  hands  and  parted. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON~.  ^ 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

MR.  AND  MRS.  MORTON  VISIT  THE  FARM. 

TMIREE  weeks  after  Frank  Livingston  left  the  farm,  Mr. 
1  and  Mrs.  Morton,  without  any  previous  notice  that 
they  contemplated  making  the  visit,  late  one  beautiful  af 
ternoon  arrived  at  the  country  home  of  Captain  Waters. 
They  met  with  as  warm  a  welcome  as  ever  parents  be 
stowed  upon  their  much-loved  childrea  Susie  appeared, 
and  really  was,  exceedingly  glad  to  see  her  father  and 
mother.  She  was  aware  that  there  would  be  a  very  strong 
effort  made  to  change  her  mind  and  induce  her  to  marry 
Frank,  but  knowing  that  her  grandfather  and  grand 
mother  Waters  would  oppose  the  views  and  wishes  of  her 
parents,  and  having  decided  not  to  marry  him,  she  felt 
that  soon  all  would  be  settled,  and  was  determined  that 
the  coming  storm  should  not  lessen  her  pleasure  at  meet 
ing  with  her  father  and  mother. 

It  is  not  every  one  who  can  so  school  and  discipline 
their  mind  and  control  their  feelings,  but  Susie  Morton 
had  by  nature  a  superior  mind,  and  had  so  cultivated  and 
exercised  it  that  her  will  could  always  master  her  feel 
ings,  and  at  no  period  of  her  life,  though  short,  had  there 
been  an  occasion  for  a  greater  effort  on  her  part.  It  had 
been  determined  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  riot  to  allude 
to  the  object  of  their  visit  on  the  first  day,  hoping  that 
if  Captain  or  Mrs.  Waters  knew  anything  of  the  matter, 
that  they  would  speak  of  it.  However  strong  that  hope 
was,  they  would  have  died  with  it  in  their  hearts  if  they 
had  waited  until  either  of  the  parties  possessing  the  secret 
had  gratified  them. 

Captain  Waters  invited  Mr.  Morton  to  view  the  farm 
and  improvements  made  on  it;  Mrs.  Waters  asked  her 
daughter  to  examine  the  house  and  the  furniture, 

Susie  was  joined  by  her  cousin  Julia,  it  being  late  in 
the  afternoon,  and  past  the  hour  of  Julia's  getting  up 
in  the  morning.  The  indolent  creature  had  no  other 
means  of  whiling  away  some  tedious  moments,  and  con 
cluded  to  pass  over  the  house  and  hear  what  her  aunt 
might  have  to  say  about  it. 


156 


CAPTAIN1  WATERS 


Laura  Morton  found  much  in  the  house  to  admire,  and 
all  in  and  about  the  new  home  of  her  father  and  mother 
so  pleasant  and  so  beautiful,  that  she  thought  they  could 
not  be  otherwise  than  satisfied  and  happy. 

Mr.  Morton  went  over  the  farm  with  Captain  Waters, 
and  closely  inspected  all  that  claimed  his  notice,  and  as 
usual,  lastly  taking  the  visitor  to  the  Bo'son's  house.  The 
Bo'son  was  well  acquainted  with  Mr.  Morton,  and  en 
tered  freely  into  conversation  with  him,  explaining,  in  his 
own  way,  the  use  of  articles  that  were  new  to  Mr.  Morton. 

The  Bo'son  watched  the  countenance  of  his  visitor  more 
closely  than  was  his  custom,  but  could  discover  nothing 
in  it  to  indicate  the  feelings  and  purposes  of  the  individ 
ual  he  was  watching.  There  was  nothing  in  the  appear 
ance  or  manner  of  William  Morton  but  that  of  a  well- 
bred  and  accomplished  gentleman,  who  could  command 
himself,  and  sometimes  showed  a  slight  disposition  to 
command  others. 

When  they  left  the  house  of  the  Bo'son,  he  looked  long 
after  them  as  they  were  walking  towards  the  mansion,  and 
talked  to  himself  as  was  his  custom. 

"  The  barometer  indicates  a  change  in  the  weather,  and 
there  will  be  a  hurricane,  tornado,  or  water-spout  within 
the  next  eight  and  forty  hours,  or  the  Bo'son  is  no  judge 
of  the  weather.  Let  it  come  we  are  ready  for  it." 

At  the  tea-table  the  conversation  was  lively  and  general, 
without  in  one  instance  betraying  the  wishes  or  feelings 
of  any  present,  though  each  had  a  purpose  to  accomplish. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  had  seen  too  much  of  the  world  and 
of  society  to  be  at  any  time  or  place  at  a  loss  for  sub 
jects  of  conversation,  and  in  their  father's  house  they 
could  not  but  feel  at  home,  and  would  have  been  perfectly 
so  under  all  circumstances  but  those  that  were  weighing 
heavily  at  their  hearts,  and  required  some  effort  to 
conceal. 

Mr.  Morton  addressed  the  Captain  by  saying  : 

"  Father,  how  does  Bill  Thomas  the  Bo'son  get  along 
on  the  farm  ?  " 

"  Very  well,  William;  he  can  'navigate'  an  ox  team  and 
'  discharge  '  a  cargo  of  milk  from  a  cow,  though  he  was 


BILL,  HIS  £O  'SOtf.  157 

c  knocked  overboard  and  went  astern,'  the  first  '  milking 
voyage  '  that  he  made!" 

"Joseph,"  said  the  wife,  "why  do  you  continue  to  use 
nautical  phrases  in  answering  William's  question  ?  "  You 
ought  to  'tack  ship  and  make  the  land,'  now  you  are 
on  a  farm." 

"  Ready  about,  call  the  Bo'son  and  tell  him  to  '  pipe  all 
hands  to  stations.'  You  can  all  see  how  completely 
mother  has  lost  her  knowledge  of  the  ocean  language. 
Never  mind,  mother,  it  comes  natural  and  handy  to  us 
both,  and  we  have  learned  it  so  thoroughly  that  neither  of 
us  can  easily  forget  it.  The  Bo'son,  William,  has  encoun 
tered  some  heavy  squalls,  but  he  proves  equal  to  them  all. 
He  has  not  at  any  time  entirely  lost  his  good  nature, 
though  he  came  very  near  it  when  old  '  butts  '  got  in  his 
wake." 

The  Captain  related,  with  some  embellishments,  Bill's 
encounter  with  the  ram,  and  how  the  account  was  settled. 

They  all  joined  in  a  hearty  laugh  at  the  Bo'son's 
expense,  who  would  have  joined  in  it  had  he  been 
present. 

Mr.  Morton  next  addressed  Julia  Fizzlebaugh,  and 
asked  her  how  she  liked  the  country,  and  how  she  passed 
her  time  ? 

"  I  don't  like  the  country  any  how,  uncle ;  it  is  too  dull 
for  me.  Nothing  to  interest;  nothing  to  excite;  no  pi 
ano  in  the  house,  and  no  way  of  amusing  one's  self. 
Readable  books  are  out  of  the  question.  I  have  come 
very  near  dying  for  want  of  excitement." 

"Why,  I  am  surprised,"  said  her  uncle.  "I  thought 
father  had  a  fine  library,  and  so  has  the  steward.  How 
is  that,  Julia?" 

"  There  are  books  enough  to  be  sure,  but  they  are  not 
to  my  liking, — not  new  works  just  from  the  press;  they 
are  far  too  antiquated  for  the  times.  What  does  one  want 
of  history,  and  of  the  old  authors  and  poets,  I  should  like 
to  know  ? " 

"  Why  net  ride  and  walk  in  the  fields,  and  enjoy  the 
benefits  of  the  morning  air  ?  " 

"  Uncle  Joseph  mostly  rides  too  early  in  the  day  to  suit 


IS8  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

my  taste  and  convenience,  and  walking  requires  more 
effort  than  I  am  willing  to  make." 

"  I  see,  Julia,  that  the  country  has  produced  no  change 
in  you,  and  that  you  were  born  for  a  city  life,  and  a  lady," 
was  the  reply  of  Laura  Morton.  "  I  wish  that  Susie  may 
iearn  some  valuable  lessons  from  you,  and  be  an  accom 
plished  lady." 

"  Laura,"  said  Captain  Waters,  "  Susie  has  been  learn 
ing  better  lessons  from  her  grandmother  than  Julia  can 
teach  her." 

"  I  should  like  to  hear  from  mother  how  Susie  has  be 
haved,  and  what  valuable  lessons  she  has  learned." 

"  Laura,  Susie  is  up  every  morning  before  the  sun  is ; 
and  by  the  time  I  am  ready  to  go  to  the  milk-room,  this 
room  and  the  sitting-room  are  in  order ;  and  then  she 
assists  me  with  the  milk  and  butter.  Sometimes  she  helps 
in  the  kitchen,  and  anywhere  that  light  work  is  to  be 
done.  She  is  becoming  quite  a  cook." 

"  I  thought,  mother,  that  you  had  servants  enough  to 
do  all  your  work,  or  I  should  not  have  consented  for 
Susie  to  have  remained  so  long.  Poor,  delicate  creature ! 
it  will  ruin  her  and  all  her  future  prospects  I  am  afraid, 
though  I  know  it  is  well  meant." 

"  O,  no,  Laura,"  said  her  father ;  "  it  will  do  her  good, 
you  may  depend  on  it.  Mother  knows  what  is  right  and 
best,  because  she  has  sailed  for  it." 

"It  maybe  so,  father;  but  I  am  not  a  judge.  Going 
as  I  did  from  a  boarding-school  to  the  head  of  a  house,  I 
had  to  learn  all  that  I  know  about  house-keeping  after 
I  was  married." 

"Yes,  yes,  that  is  so;  for  your  mother  and  myself 
were  then  at  sea,  or  it  would  have  been  otherwise,  I  am 
certain." 

The  evening  passed  away  with  pleasant  conversation, 
and  at  an  early  hour  all  retired  to  meditate  on  the  past, 
scheme  for  and  dream  of  the  future. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  159 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

MR.     AND     MRS.    MORTON     OBTAIN    SUSIE'S    CONDITIONAL 
CONSENT  TO  MARRY  FRANK  LIVINGSTON. 

THE  following  morning,  after  breakfast,  Mrs.  Morton 
asked  Susie  to  go  with  her  to  the  parlor,  where  they 
found  Mr.  Morton  engaged  in  looking  over  the  books  on 
the  center-table.  Mr.  Morton  closed  the  book  in  his 
hand,  laid  it  on  the  table,  and  received  the  wife  and 
daughter  in  the  kindest  and  most  affectionate  manner. 

Mrs.  Morton  manifested,  in  her  face  and  by  her  actions, 
a  deep  anxiety  that  all  her  efforts  failed  to  disguise.  It 
was  not  so  with  her  husband ;  for  whatever  may  have  been 
his  feelings,  they  were  locked  securely  in  his  own  bosom, 
and  outwardly  there  was  no  evidence  that  any  important 
matters  were  disturbing  his  mind. 

Susie  Morton  was  fully  satisfied  about  the  object  of 
the  meeting,  and  felt  far  more  anxiety  for  her  parents, 
than  on  her  own  account.  Susie  was  desirous  of  doing 
nothing  that  it  was  possible  to  avoid,  that  would  be  in 
opposition  to  their  wishes,  or  that  would  give  them 
pain.  She  was  calm  in  appearance,  and  lovely  to  look 
upon  ;  if  possible  more  so  than  usual,  from  the  plain 
ness  and  simplicity  of  her  morning  dress.  The  parents 
looked  upon  her  with  pride,  and  in  their  hearts 
dearly  loved  her.  How  could  they  help  loving  such  a 
child  ?  A  beautiful  daughter,  having  just  reached  the 
age  of  womanhood,  one  that  had  never  manifested  a 
disposition  to  be  disobedient,  or  to  give  her  parents 
pain.  It  was  the  love  of  the  father  and  mother  for  their 
daughter  that  prompted  them  to  do  as  they  were  about 
doing.  If  they  could  see  their  daughter  married  to  Frank 
Livingston,  and  settled  in  her  own  home  with  such  a  hus 
band,  belonging  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the  State, 
who  would  move  in  the  highest  circles  of  society,  they  felt 
that  the  daughter  must  be  happy,  and  the  one  great 
object  of  years'  contemplation  and  struggle  would  be 
accomplished. 

Mr.   Morton,   noticing  the  anxiety^j2f_  his   wife,   and 


I6o  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

knowing  enough  of  the  daughter's  command  over  her 
self  to  control  her  feelings,  and  fully  believing  that  Susie 
comprehended  the  object  of  their  coming  to  the  farm, 
and  of  that  meeting,  addressed  himself  directly  to  the 
subject,  by  saying : 

"  Susie,  your  mother  and  myself  were  greatly  disap 
pointed  in  your  declining  to  accept  the  offer  of  Mr.  Liv 
ingston  without  consulting  us,  and  declining  it  in  such 
mild  though  decided  terms  as  to  nearly  close  the  door  of 
hope  against  him ;  and  we  thought  you  might  take  a  more 
favorable  view  of  it,  after  talking  the  matter  over  with  us, 
and  your  grandfather  and  grandmother." 

During  this  opening  address,  in  what  may  be  considered 
a  romance  of  real  life,  Susie  Morton  had  sat  on  the  oppo 
site  side  of  the  table,  and  near  her  mother,  with  her 
beautiful  dark  eyes  fixed  earnestly  on  her  father,  and  a 
countenance  expressive  of  love  and  goodness,  and  also 
of  firmness  and  decision.  After  a  little  reflection,  she 
said : 

"  Father,  dear,  I  could  not  do  otherwise.  I  do  not  love 
him,  and  could  not  be  his  wife  without  loving  him." 

"  My  dear  child,  at  your  age  you  hardly  know  whether 
you  love  him  or  not.  You  could  marry  him,  and  learn 
to  love  him  afterwards." 

"  That  is  an  experiment,  father,  that  would  not  be  safe 
for  a  young  girl  to  try." 

"  There  are  worldly  circumstances  and  considerations 
in  marriage  that  make  it  safer  for  a  daughter  to  depend 
on  the  experience  of  her  parents,  than  on  her  own  judg 
ment  ;  and  this  is  one  of  them." 

"  It  may  be  so,  my  dear  father ;  but  worldly  circum 
stances  and  considerations  cannot  foster  or  control  the 
warm  and  tender  feelings  that  must  ever  cluster  around 
the  heart  of  a  wife  for  her  husband,  to  make  them  both 
happy." 

"  Love,  my  child,  must  be  something  more  than  the 
workings  of  a  romantic  young  lady's  wild  imagination  ; 
it  must  have  something  to  subsist  on,  something  to  feed 
and  nourish  it,  or  it  dies  young.  It  is,  after  all,  only  friend 
ship  purified;  and  in  married  life,  in  all  cases,  can  be  in- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  Ig1 

creased  and  strengthened  by  cultivation.  In  selecting  a 
husband,  and  becoming  settled  in  life,  a  young  woman 
should  take  into  consideration  the  family  that  she  marries 
into,  and  the  position  she  will  occupy  in  society." 

"  Yes,  sir,  that  is  a  subject  for  deep  reflection  ;  but  a 
young  woman,  before  she  consents  to  marry,  should  calcu 
late  the  chances  of  her  happiness  or  misery  in  so  doing." 

"That  is  very  true,  Susie,  and  for  that  reason  your 
mother  and  myself  offer  the  aid  of  our  experience,  and  our 
assistance  in  selecting  a  husband  for  you.  We  know  all 
about  Mr.  Livingston,  and  about  his  wealth  and  family, 
and  with  him  for  a  husband,  we  feel  assured  you  will  be 
very  happy,  and  occupy  a  distinguished  place  in  the  fash 
ionable  world." 

"  Father,  you  and  my  mother  have  the  same  object  in 
wishing  me  to  marry  Mr.  Livingston,  that  I  have  in  de 
clining  his  offer.  You  are  desirous  of  seeing  me  happy. 
I  wish  to  be  so,  and  that  is  my  only  reason  for  refusing  to 
become  his  wife;  besides,  I  am  too  young  to  be  the  wife  of 
any  one.  I  require  age  and  more  knowledge  of  the  duties 
of  a  wife  before  I  become  one." 

"  Susie,"  said  her  mother,  "  you  are  older  and  have 
more  experience  than  I  had  when  I  married  your  father, 
and  there  is  a  great  difference  between  the  circumstances 
of  Mr.  Livingston  and  those  of  your  father,  at  the  time  we 
were  married.  Your  father  had  his  fortune  to  make,  Mr. 
Livingston  has  one  in  hand  ;  your  father  had  no  rich,  no 
influential  friends,  Mr.  Livingston  has  many.  I  had  no 
good  grandmother  to  assist  me  when  beginning  housekeep 
ing,  and  my  mother  was  at  sea.  You  can  have  the  advice 
of  both  mother  and  grandmother,  and  what  you  don't 
know,  they  will  gladly  teach  you.  You  must  remember, 
dear,  that  in  being  Mrs.  Frank  Livingston,  you  will  have 
a  housekeeper  and  plenty  of  servants  to  attend  to  your 
wishes;  so  be  a  good  girl,  and  do  as  we  wish  you  to,  and 
accept  the  offer." 

"  Mother,  it  cannot  be.  I  am  sorry  to  have  to  decide 
against  your  wishes,  but  to  marry  Frank  Livingston  with 
me  is  impossible." 

"  Don't  say  that,  Susie,"  interposed  her  father,  "  you 


!62  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

have  not  fully  and  fairly  considered  the  subject,  nor  have 
you  heard  all  that  we  shall  urge  in  favor  of  it.  Mr.  Liv 
ingston  is  a  gentleman  of  family  and  wealth,  possessing 
all  the  accomplishments  that  can  make  him  attractive  in 
fashionable  society,  which,  added  to  his  wealth  and  name, 
gives  him  a  position  that  few  occupy.  We  have  no  name, 
no  family,  to  refer  back  to, — for  I  went  to  the  City  of  New 
York  a  poor  orphan  boy, — your  grandfather  is  unknown  in 
the  fashionable  world;  and  now  since  I  have  accumulated 
some  considerable  property,  I  want  a  place  higher  than  I 
occupy,  and  wish  you  and  your  brother  to  marry  into  the 
highest  circles  of  society.  Such  an  offer  as  is  now  made 
to  you,  may  never  again  be  yours  to  accept,  and  you  must 
not  think  of  rejecting  it.  I  do  not  now  command,  I  only 
entreat  you  to  reconsider  your  answer,  and  write  Frank 
that  you  accept  his  offer." 

Susie  Morton  had  listened  with  earnest  attention  to  all 
that  had  been  urged  by  her  father  and  mother,  without 
having  changed  her  mind  or  for  a  moment  wavered  in  her 
first  and  final  decision.  The  parents  watched  her  closely, 
but  her  face  was  so  calm  and  so  sweet  that  they  were  un 
able  to  form  any  opinion  of  what  impressions  had  been 
made,  and  though  they  had  decided  to  command  and 
threaten  unless  she  yielded,  the  time  had  not  yet  come  for 
that,  as  they  both  hoped,  with  the  assistance  of  Captain 
Waters  and  his  wife,  to  persuade  their  daughter  to  comply 
with  their  wishes. 

After  a  short  silence,  looking  first  at  her  father,  then  at 
her  mother,  Susie  said  : 

"Father,  mother,  would  you  sacrifice  your  daughter, 
wreck  her  happiness  in  this  world,  for  all  time,  to  gratify 
your  desire  for  a  position  in  the  fashionable  world  ?  You 
love  me,  and  I  know  it  full  well ;  you  have  both  lavished 
upon  me  your  love  and  affection  from  my  earliest  recol 
lection  to  the  present,  denied  me  nothing  that  you  thought 
would  add  to  my  happiness,  and  what  you  now  wish  is 
for  the  same  object,  but  you  are  mistaken.  The  glitter 
of  fashionable  life  has  no  charms  for  me,  if  to  obtain  it 
I  must  be  the  wife  of  Frank  Livingston.  I  could  endure 
anything,  with  a  husband  that  I  loved.  I  would  not  con- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  ^3 

sent  to  share  a  throne,  and  wear  a  diadem,  with  one  I  did 
not  love.  Urge  me  no  further  to  be  the  wife  of  the  man 
you  recommend  as  my  life  long  companion.  It  cannot  be, 
and  I  earnestly  entreat  you  not  to  press  the  subject, — not 
to  insist  on  my  compliance.  For  the  love  I  bear  you, 
for  the  kindness  and  affection  you  have  bestowed  upon 
me,  I  will  make  every  suitable  return,  any  sacrifice,  even 
life  if  necessary ;  but  cannot,  will  not,  marry  Frank  Liv 
ingston.  By  your  affections,  by  the  remembrance  of  my 
happy  home  and  childhood,  and  your  earnest  hopes  of 
seeing  that  happiness  continued,  yield  in  this  to  me,  and 
claim  in  all  things  else  the  obedience  of  a  daughter  who 
loves  and  will  obey  you." 

The  father  and  mother  were  astonished  at  the  calm, 
loving  and  decided  manner  of  their  daughter.  Their  love, 
if  possible,  was  increased,  and  their  tenderest  feelings 
were  touched.  They,  however,  thought  that  Susie  was 
not  as  capable  as  themselves  of  judging  what  was  most 
for  her  interest  and  happiness,  and  were  determined  not 
to  give  up  their  wishes.  Mr.  Morton  was  the  first  to 
speak. 

"  Susie,  we  have  lived  longer,  and  can  judge  better 
than  you  can  about  these  matters,  and  you  mustn't  place 
your  young  and  unmatured  judgment  against  that  of 
older  and  wiser  heads  than  yours.  Now,  if  grandfather 
and  grandmother  Waters  unite  with  us  in  urging  your 
acceptance  of  Mr.  Livingston's  offer,  will  you  seriously 
consider  the  matter,  and  try  to  love  him  enough  to  be 
his  wife  ?  " 

Susie  appeared  to  be  earnestly  engaged  in  deep  thought, 
as  though  she  was  considering  the  matter ;  and  knowing 
how  perfectly  safe  she  would  be,  said  : 

"  It  would  not  be  right  for  me  to  oppose  my  wishes  and 
judgment  against  the  recommendation  of  all  my  best  and 
loved  friends ;  and  if  they  agree  with  you  and  mother, 
then  I  will  endeavor  to  comply." 

"  I  know  that  father  Waters  will  take  the  same  view  of 
it  that  we  do  ;  and,  Susie,  you  have  made  me  very  happy 
in  consenting  under  such  circumstances.  Laura,  you 
please  go  and  call  your  father  and  mother,  and  their  con- 


104 


CAP  TAW  WATERS 


sent  will  make  us  all  very  cheerful  and  happy.  You 
mustn't  tell  them  for  what  they  are  wanted,  as  we  wish 
to  treat  them  to  an  agreeable  surprise,  at  the  prospect  of 
being  grandparents  to  so  distinguished  a  young  gentle 
man  as  Frank  Livingston." 

Mr.  Morton's  face  beamed  with  perfect  delight,  and  he 
walked  across  the  floor  rubbing  his  hands;  but  as  the 
Captain's  consent  was  not  readily  given,  it  will  require 
another  chapter  to  relate  what  transpired  after  the  old 
folks  entered  the  parlor. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

CAPTAIN  WATERS   SHAKES  MR.  MORTON,  AND  HB   BECOMES 
SENSIBLE. 

pAPTAIN  and  Mrs.  Waters  entered  the  parlor  with  their 
v  daughter  Laura,  where  Mr.  Morton  was  still  walking 
the  floor,  and  rubbing  his  hands  in  the  best  possible 
spirits,  and  with  the  greatest  delight,  believing  that  his 
father  and  mother  Waters  would  unite  with  himself  and 
wife,  and  immediately  settle  the  subject  of  Susie's  mar 
riage  with  Frank  Livingston. 

While  her  mother  was  absent  from  the  room,  Susie  had 
remained  quietly  sitting  in  the  place  she  had  occupied 
from  the  first,  and  without  speaking  a  single  word,  as 
her  father  was  so  overjoyed  at  obtaining  a  conditional 
promise  from  her,  that  he  was  unable  or  unwilling  to  con 
tinue  the  conversation. 

"  Sit  down,  father  and  mother,"  said  the  joyful  Mr. 
Morton.  "  I  have  a  great  surprise  for  you, — something  to 
tell  that  will  make  your  hearts  jump  for  joy.  I  have  lived 
many  years,  but  never  seen  such  a  happy  day.  Frank 
Livingston,  Esq.,  has  offered  himself  in  marriage  to  our 
Susie!  What  do  you  think  of  that  for  good  news?" 

"  Well,  William,  has  Susie  accepted  the  offer?  "  asked 
the  Captain. 

"  No,  father,  not  exactly ;    she  pleads  her  youth  and 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  ^ 

inexperience,  and  seems  a  little  disposed  to  hesitate  in 
accepting  the  offer,  but  you  are  aware  that  young  women 
often  do  so,  when  their  minds  are  fully  made  up  on  the 
subject.  Susie,  however,  says  that  if  you  and  mother 
Waters  approve  and  recommend  her  to  do  so,  that  she 
will  accept  the  offer.  Neither  you  nor  mother  can  fail  to 
see  the  great  advantages  of  such  a  marriage,  and  I  am 
certain  that  you  will  sanction  it." 

"  Does  Susie  love  him  enough  to  marry  him  and  be 
happy;  how  is  it,  pet?" 

"  No,  grandpa,  I  do  not  love  him,  and  cannot  marry 
him." 

"  Then  that  ends  the  whole  matter,  William,  and  there 
is  no  use  in  talking  any  more  about  it,"  said  Captain 
Waters. 

William  Morton  was  amazed;  he  was  disappointed,  and 
had  met  opposition  where  he  had  expected  assistance. 
He  walked  a  few  times  across  the  floor,  and  then  stopping 
before  Mrs.  Waters,  said : 

"  Mother,  that  is  certainly  not  your  opinion?" 

"  William,  how  is  it  possible  for  me  to  entertain  any 
different  opinion  ?  I  would  never  consent  for  Susie  to 
marry  a  man  she  didn't  love.  The  voyage  of  life  is  too 
long  for  that." 

"  You  are  all  against  me,  but  that  don't  end  the  matter. 
Laura  and  myself  have  both  fully  decided  that  Susie  must 
and  shall  marry  Frank  Livingston." 

"  Must  and  shall,  William,  are  positive  expressions. 
You  certainly  wouldn't  marry  Susie  against  her  will?" 
was  Captain  Waters  reply. 

"  They  are  positive  expressions,  and  convey  my  mean 
ing.  I  would  marry  her  against  her  wishes,  knowing  it 
to  be  for  her  interest  and  the  interest  of  the  family." 

"  You  mustn't  be  rash,  William;  there  is  some  of  the 
Waters'  blood  in  Susie's  veins,  and  that  is  very  hard  to 
'must  and  shall'  against  its  better  judgment;  besides, 
Susie  is  of  age." 

"  I  don't  care  anything  about  her  age;  she  is  my  daugh 
ter,  and  must  do  as  I  wish  her  to.  Mr.  Livingston  is  a 
gentleman  without  a  blemish  in  his  character;  one  of 


X66  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

wealth,  of  distinguished  family  connections  and  consi 
derations,  which  make  him  a  very  desirable  son-in-law.  I 
have  promised  him  my  daughter  for  a  wife,  and  mean  to 
keep  that  promise  at  all  hazards." 

"  Family  fiddle-strings !  Talk  of  family  connections, 
family  considerations,  and  promises  to  be  kept  at  all 
hazards, — how  are  you  going  to  keep  that  promise  if 
Susie  continues  to  say  no?  and  having  said  it  once,  she 
will  not  be  likely  to  change  her  answer,  and  I,  her  grand 
father,  will  commend  her  for  it.  Exercise  your  reason, 
William,  and  give  up  your  wish  in  this  matter  for  the 
happiness  of  all." 

"  I  will  not  give  it  up.  Susie  shall  marry  him  or  cease 
to  be  my  daughter, — never  again  enter  my  house.  I  will 
disinherit  her,  and  give  all  my  property  to  her  brother." 

Susie  was  greatly  distressed  in  her  heart  to  witness  her 
father's  excitement,  and  went  to  where  he  had  seated  him 
self,  and  putting  her  arms  around  his  neck  kissed  him. 
Mr.  Morton  put  his  arm  around  the  waist  of  his  daughter 
and  said  : 

44  Susie,  will  you  marry  Frank  and  make  us  all  happy?  " 

44  Dear  father,  anything  else  that  you  require  i  will 
cheerfully  do,  but  never  be  the  wife  of  Frank  Livings 
ton." 

William  Morton  pushed  his  daughter  from  him  saying, 
as  he  did  so  :  ''Go,  ungrateful  child." 

It  was  the  first  unkind  word  received,  the  first  unkind 
act  of  her  father,  and  her  heart  was  nearly  broken.  She 
burst  into  tears,  and  found  herself  in  her  grandfather's 
arms.  The  old  Captain, — for  him, — had  been  very  calm, 
but  there  was  a  hurricane  coming,  and  it  was  very  near, 
for  Susie  was  one  that  no  harm  must  approach,  or  her 
grandfather  would  "call  all  hands." 

"  William  Morton,  you  cou —  " 

*4  Stop,  Joseph,"  said  his  wife. 

14  You  don't  deserve  such  a  daughter.  You  will  close 
your  doors  against  her,  will  you  ?  Well,  her  grandfather 
has  a  house  and  heart  large  enough  to  hold  her  all  the 
time,  and  all  that  she  wants  of  both  of  them  are  her's. 
You  will  disinherit  her,  will  you  ?  Just  do  it  if  you  like, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  l67 

and  I  will  disinherit  your  wife,  and  give  one-third  of  my 
property  to  Susie,  and  that  will  be  more  than  you  will  ever 
have  to  give  any  one.  I  sold  the  '  Neptune  '  for  one  hun 
dred  and  ten  thousand  dollars, — it  has  been  at  interest 
since  the  sale,  and  is  not  one  quarter  of  my  property. 
So  pet  will  be  well  provided  for." 

The  Captain  had  said  more  about  property  than  he  in 
tended  to,  for  he  was  never  boastful,  but  he  was  greatly 
excited  on  that  occasion. 

Mrs.  Morton  had  remained  silent,  leaving  her  husband 
to  do  all  the  talking,  but  when  her  father  ceased  speak 
ing,  she  turned  to  Mrs.  Waters,  saying  : 

"  Mother,  help  us  with  your  good  common  sense  and 
sound  judgment,  out  of  all  these  difficulties.  You  know 
how  very  anxious  William  is,  that  our  children  should 
marry  into  some  distinguished  old  families  that  have  hon 
ored  names." 

"  Distinguished  old  cats  that  have  kittens  !  What  are 
names  worth  without  proper  men  to  bear  them  ?  We  all 
want  to  see  Susie  happy,  but  I  am  satisfied  she  couldn't 
be  so  as  the  wife  of  Mr.  Livingston,"  was  Mrs.  Waters' 
reply. 

"  Perhaps,  mother,''  said  Mr.  Morton,  "  you  have  other 
arrangements  of  your  own,  in  regard  to  a  husband  for 
Susie." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,  William,  I  do  assure  you;  nor  do 
I  know  of  any." 

"  Hasn't  George  Wilson  been  here  of  late  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  not  after  Susie." 

''  Susie,"  asked  her  father,  "  are  you  engaged  to  George 
Wilson  ? " 

'  No,  father;  he  never  intimated  anything  of  the 
kind  to  me." 

"  I  would  sooner  see  you  dead  and  buried,  than  the  wife 
of  such  a  nameless  wretch." 

Captain  Waters  jumped  and  took  his  son-in-law  by  the 
collar  and  gave  him  a  shake,  shouting: 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  calling  my  boy  a  nameless 
wretch  ?  I'll  shake  you  out  of  your  boots  and  stockings, 
if  you  are  one  of  the  family." 


!68  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  Joseph,  Joseph,"  cried  the  wife,  "  I  do  believe  you 
have  lost  your  senses." 

"  Don't  talk  to  me,  Nancy ;  I  can't  allow  any  one  to 
speak  ill  of  George." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir  ;  I  am  over  excited,"  said  Mr. 
Morton.  "  I  know  nothing  bad  about  him  personally. 
He  has  no  rich  or  powerful  friends,  and  his  mother  took 
in  sewing  to  educate  him  and  his  sister." 

"  Suppose  she  did, — that  is  a  thundering  sight  better 
than  for  them  to  have  gone  without  an  education,  or  not 
been  able  to  pay  the  bills  for  their  instruction." 

"Joseph  Waters,  do  stop  using  such  expressions,"  said 
his  wife. 

"  It  isn't  much  worse  than  '  distinguished  old  cat,'  is  it, 
mother?  " 

"  No  matter  how  the  boy  was  educated,  without  friends 
and  a  name,  he  could  never  marry  my  daughter." 

"  William,"  replied  the  Captain,  'Mrs.  Wilson  didn't 
take  in  sewing  to  educate  her  children,  after  I  found  it 
out.  I  went  there  and  asked  it  as  a  favor  that  she  would 
allow  me  to  educate  them  as  my  own,  for  their  father 
sailed  'long  with  me.  Mrs.  Wilson  was  so  over-joyed 
that  she  took  my  hand  and  was  about  to  kiss  it,  but  I 
stopped  that,  and  offered  her  something  more  acceptable 
to  kiss,  which  she  accepted  ;  and  I  gave  her  another  to 
pay.  I  don't  care  if  mother  and  Laura  do  know  it.  I 
dare  say  I  told  mother  all  about  it  at  the  time,  but  don't 
remember." 

"  Yes,  yes,  you  did,  Joseph  ;  and  I  told  you  at  the  time 
that  you  did  just  right,  kissing  and  all;  and  we  have  none 
of  us  been  sorry  for  it  yet.  George  is  a  good  boy,  and 
his  sister  is  a  sweet  girl." 

"  Now,  William  Morton,"'  continued  Captain  Waters, 
"  you  talk  of  George  Wilson  being  '  a  nameless  wretch, 
and  having  no  rich  friends.'  Let  me  tell  you  that  he  is 
of  a  distinguished  family,  and  his  name  has  been  honored 
since  ships  sailed  from  American  ports.  Should  he  marry 
your  daughter  (and  I  hope  he  will,  for  he  is  just  the  kind 
of  a  man  to  be  the  husband  of  such  a  woman,  though  I 
never  thought  about  the  matter  till  since  we  have  been 


AND  B/LL,  HIS  BO' SON.  j69 

talking),  he  will  have  one  powerful  friend  and  a  rich  rela 
tive,  for  he  will  have  Joseph  Waters  for  a  grandfather." 

"  Joseph,  this  is  the  first  time  in  my  hearing,  that  you 
have  boasted  of  being  rich." 

"  I  know  it,  mother ;  but  it  is  the  first  time  that  I  have 
fully  realized  the  power  of  money, — not  for  myself,  but  to 
make  others  happy.  If  George  should  marry  our  Susie, 
— and  she  will  not  have  him  unless  she  loves  him, — then 
some  of  the  money  that  I  have  made  and  saved  will  go 
to  buy  him  a  good  ship,  when  he  feels  competent  to  com 
mand  one  ;  and  I  shall  be  very  happy  in  seeing  others 
happy  whom  I  love." 

A  tear  of  heart-felt  joy,  from  each  of  the  Captain's  eyes, 
were  rolling  down  his  benevolent  face,  at  the  thought  of 
making  others  happy. 

Mr.  Morton  had  calmed  down  entirely.  Whether  it 
was  the  shaking  that  the  captain  gave  him,  or  the  knowl 
edge  that  his  father-in-law  possessed  over  half  a  million 
of  dollars,  none  but  himself  knew.  He  at  length  said  : 

"  Father  and  mother,  we  will  leave  this  unpleasant  sub 
ject  for  the  present,  and  you,  Susie,  will  forgive  a  father's 
first  unkindness,  and  come  to  him  with  a  kiss." 

Susie  did  forgive  him,  and  kissed  him  until  there  was 
no  unkindness  or  harsh  feelings  left  in  his  heart. 

"  I  will  tell  you  things  this  afternoon,  William,  about 
Frank,  that  will  cure  you  of  every  wish  to  have  him  a 
member  of  your  family.  Now  for  dinner,"  said  the 
captain. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

CAPTAIN  AND  MRS.  WATERS*  OPINION  ON  HAPPINESS. 

VTOTHING  was  said  during  the  time  occupied  at  the 
•»• '  dinner-table  on  the  subject  that  had  been  discussed 
in  the  forepart  of  the  day.  Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters, 
by  a  judicious  exercise  of  their  practical  good  sense  and 
good  nature,  had  succeeded  in  restoring  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

8 


iyo  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Morton  and  Susie,  if  not  to  perfect  cheerfulness,  to  a 
state  of  mind  bordering  closely  upon  it,  long  before 
the  meal  ended.  When  they  were  about  leaving  the 
dining-room,  Captain  Waters,  in  a  tone  of  great  kindness, 
said: 

"  Now,  mother  and  children,  let  us  return  to  the  par 
lor,  that  I  may  tell  William  and  Laura  what  I  know  of 
Frank  Livingston,  and  learn  from  them  if  they  still  wish 
him  to  be  the  husband  of  Susie.  We  are  all  of  us  in  a 
mind  at  the  present  moment  to  speak  and  listen  calmly 
to  the  truth." 

When  they  were  again  in  the  parlor,  and  seated  near 
each  other,  the  Captain,  after  a  little  thinking,  first  ad 
dressed  himself  to  Mr.  Morton  by  saying : 

"  William,  we  were  stormy  this  morning,  but  that  is 
now  passed,  and  has  been  followed  by  a  calm.  If  on 
this  your  first  visit  to  our  country  home,  and  last  anchor 
ing  place  in  this  world,  you  should  leave  with  unpleasant 
feelings  towards  any  under  this  roof,  one  of  the  great 
objects  of  settling  here  would  be  defeated.  I  want  this 
to  be  not  only  a '  Snug  Harbor,"  but  a  home  of  happiness, 
where  the  children  and  grandchildren  can  come  and  en 
joy  themselves ;  and  also  to  be  a  comfortable  home  for 
those  that  have  sailed  many  times  around  the  world  with 
us.  The  ties  that  bind  sailors  together  are  next  in 
strength  to  those  that  bind  parents  and  children  to  each 
other." 

Captain  Waters  had  with  a  design  spoken  longer  than 
was  his  custom,  in  order  to  draw  the  mind  of  his  son-in- 
law,  and  that  of  his  daughter,  away  from  the  subject  that 
he  well  knew  was  nearest  their  hearts.  Mrs.  Waters  fully 
understood  his  purpose,  and  was  as  usual  prepared  to  act 
as  his  powerful  auxiliary.  When  he  ceased  speaking,  she 
took  up  the  subject,  and  continued  it  by  saying  : 

"  Before  selling  the  ship  and  coming  here,  we  had  seen 
enough  of  the  storms  and  excitements  of  life  to  sincerely, 
wish  for  rest  and  quiet.  We  wanted  such  a  home  as  we 
have  succeeded  in  obtaining.  Our  children  never  had 
a  permanent  home.  There  is  no  spot  on  earth  that  is 
hallowed  in  their  memory,  as  the  home  of  their  childhood, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO ' 'SOW.  r  7 ! 

— no  place  place  that  they  can  visit  and  say  :  '  Here  our 
father  and  mother  reared  us  from  infancy ;  under  that 
tree  in  the  heat  of  summer  our  father  smoked  his  pipe ; 
in  that  warm  corner  of  this  room,  in  a  winter  evening,  our 
mother  knit  and  read  her  bible.'  For  that  want  we  are 
now  endeavoring  to  provide.  This  place  we  wish  our 
children  and  grandchildren  to  remember,  when  our  voyage 
of  life  is  ended.  We  wish  them  to  remember  it  without 
the  sweetness  of  their  recollections  being  lessened  by  a 
single  sad  occurrence." 

All  listened  with  affectionate  interest  to  what  the  good 
and  kind-hearted  woman  was  saying,  and  the  Captain 
nodded  his  head  a  number  of  times  in  approval ;  when 
she  ceased  speaking,  he  immediately  asked  : 

"  William,  do  you  love  your  daughter  Susie  as  we  love 
her  ? " 

"  If  a  father  ever  loved  a  child  with  his  whole  heart, 
then  I  love  Susie." 

"  I  knew  it  all  the  time  ;  and  so  does  Laura.  Would 
you  not  make  any  sacrifice  for  her  happiness  ?  " 

"I  certainly  would  sacrifice  all  that  I  have,  to  secure  her 
happiness." 

4<  It  is  for  her  happiness  that  you  have  wished  to  marry 
her  to  Frank  Livingston  ?  " 

"  For  that,  and  for  that  alone,  father,  have  I  urged  and 
would  have  forced  it,  because  I  believed  my  judgment  to 
be  better  in  this  case  than  her  own." 

"  My  children,  I  have  not  been  mistaken  in  my  conclu 
sions.  You  wish  to  see  Susie  very  happy.  Know  then 
that  Frank  Livingston  is  a  gambler,  and  a  free  drinker  of 
wine, — I  may  safely  say  an  occasional  drunkard ;  and 
when  in  the  city  seldom  reaches  his  home  until  near  morn 
ing,  and  often  requires  assistance  to  get  home.  However 
large  his  fortune,  it  will  in  time  be  wasted  at  the  gaming 
table,  and  no  drunkard  can  make  a  woman  happy." 

"  Father,  do  you  know  such  things  to  be  true  of  Mr. 
Livingston  ?" 

"  I  do,  or  I  shouldn't  state  them ;  but  do  not  ask  how  I 
obtained  the  information.  I  will  pledge  my  word  for  its 
truth." 


172 


CAPTA/N-  WATERS 


"Susie,  my  daughter,  did  you  know  of  his  failings 
when  you  declined  his  offer  ? " 

"  Yes,  father,  I  did ;  but  without  such  faults  I  could  not 
love  him,  for  he  has  no  heart." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  were  greatly  astonished  at  such 
revelations,  and  Mrs.  Morton,  always  accustomed  to  de 
pend  on  some  one  for  counsel  and  advice,  was  pleased 
that  her  father  and  mother  were  near  to  give  it.  She 
wished  in  all  cases  to  do  right,  and  especially  in  all  that 
related  to  Susie.  It  was  her  head  and  not  her  heart  which 
was  at  fault,  and  in  that  she  differed  but  little  from  her 
husband. 

Captain  Waters  had  watched  the  effect  of  his  informa 
tion,  and  saw  that  the  father  and  mother  of  Susie  would 
not  be  likely  to  urge  the  acceptance  of  that  offer  of  mar 
riage,  and  then  asked  : 

"  William,  are  you  willing  to  risk  the  happiness  of  your 
only  daughter  in  the  hands  of  such  a  man  ?  " 

"  No  sir  ;  not  if  he  was  worth  his  weight  in  diamonds, 
and  was  full  brother  to  a  king.  You,  father,  have  cured 
me  of  a  great  and  life-long  folly,  and  I  thank  you  for  it." 

"  Give  me  your  hand,  my  noble  boy,  and  say  you  own  a 
large  interest  in  the  heart  of  Joe  Waters,  who  always  talks 
what  he  means." 

They  did  shake  hands,  and  there  was  a  hearty  meaning 
in  it.  Mrs. Waters,  Laura  and  Susie  got  mixed  up  with  them, 
some  way,  while  they  were  shaking  hands,  and  there  was 
such  a  hand-shaking  all  around,  and  such  a  hugging  and 
kissing  as  did  them  all  good,  and  Captain  Waters  in  speak 
ing  of  it  afterwards  said 

"  Everybody's  eyes  '  sprung  aleak,"  my  own  included." 

When  they  were  all  again  seated,  Mrs.  Waters  offered 
her  opinion  on  married  life  and  happiness. 

"  In  every  part  of  the  world  where  I  have  been  and 
staid  long  enough  to  become  acquainted,  I  have  found 
rich  and  fast  young  men,  always  finding  and  occupying 
high  places  in  fashionable  society,  always  sought  after ; 
and  those  having  daughters,  over-willing  to  bestow  them 
as  wives  on  such  husbands.  Where  I  have  had  opportu 
nities  to  observe,  but  very  few  such  marriages  have 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO ' SOtf  j  73 

been  productive  of  lasting  happiness.  Parents  make 
great  mistakes  when  they  think  the  richer  and  higher  in 
society  their  daughters  can  marry,  the  more  sure  of  happi 
ness  they  will  be.  It  is  indeed  a  sad  mistake  to  look  for 
happiness  which  can  be  obtained  only  with  money." 

"  I  fully  believe  you,  mother,  and  am  wiser,  and  I  think 
better,  than  I  was  when  I  came  to  the  farm;  and  now,  Susie, 
my  dear  child,  what  have  you  to  say  to  your  father  ?  " 

"  I  have  much  to  say,  and  much  to  thank  you  for, 
and  also  my  dear  mother ;  but  I  have  this  day,  with  you, 
been  deeply  exercised  in  mind,  and  we  all  need  rest.  My 
future  life  will  prove  how  grateful  I  am." 

"  And  my  future  life  shall  show  you,  dear,  that  your 
happiness  shall  be  one  of  the  great  objects  of  my  future 
actions." 

"  Now,  father,  I  have  a  request  to  make, — a  favor  to 
ask." 

"  Name  it,  my  child,  and  if  consistent,  and  in  my  power, 
it  shall  be  granted.'' 

"  It  is  that  you  and  mother  will  use  your  influence 
at  the  proper  time,  to  prevent  Mr.  Livingston  from  be 
coming  the  husband  of  cousin  Julia." 

"  Who  ever  heard  the  like?  Susie,  you  are  the  strangest 
creature  for  one  of  your  age  that  ever  lived;  but  your 
request  is  granted,  though  I  don't  see  the  motive." 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  see  Julia  marry  him,  for  the  same 
reason  that  I  could  not  accept  his  offer  myself.  The 
offer  will  be  made,  and  I  fear  accepted;  but  we  have  not 
now  time  to  talk  about  it,  as  I  see  grandfather  is  impa 
tient  to  break  up  this  assembly." 

"  You  little  rose-bud,  I  will  try  and  break  you  from 
being  saucy  to  your  old  grandfather;  but  you  all  know 
I  have  been  more  indoors  to-day  than  usual,  and  I 
must  go  and  set  the  Bo'son  at  something  that  will  lead 
him  to  do  funny  things  for  our  amusement,  without  injury 
to  himself.  The  people  hereabouts  will  never  have  the 
blues  while  the  Bo'son  lives." 


I74  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

THE  BO'SON  TOWS  A  STEER  OUT  OF  THE  PASTURE. 

/CAPTAIN  Waters  was  as  great  a  lover  of  fun  as  the 
1>  Bo'son  was,  and  often  set  Bill  Thomas  at  something 
that  he  thought  would  furnish  amusement.  Much  of  the 
day  having  been  spent  in  discussing  unpleasant  subjects, 
and  in  reconciling  conflicting  opinions,  and  all  having 
ended  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  family,  the  Captain 
wished  that  something  amusing  might  occur  that  would 
waft  away  the  last  little  cloud  of  the  morning's  discon 
tent.  To  accomplish  his  wish,  he  concluded  that  the 
Bo'son  must  play  a  conspicuous  part,  feeling  assured  that 
if  Bill  only  had  an  opportunity,  he  would  play  his  part 
well.  There  were  no  cows  to  milk,  and  if  there  had 
been,  Bill  was  master  of  that  art;  there  were  no  sheep  to 
salt,  and  if  there  had  been,  "  old  butts  "  was  cured  of  a 
bad  propensity,  and  wished  no  further  acquaintance  with 
the  Bo'son. 

When  the  family  left  the  parlor,  they  went  on  the  front 
piazza,  where  they  were  soon  joined  by  Julia  Fizzle- 
baugh.  The  Captain,  casting  his  eyes  over  that  portion 
of  the  farm  in  front  of  the  house,  and  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road,  discovered  a  young  steer,  not  belonging 
to  the  farm,  that  had  broken  into  a  mowing  lot.  He 
called  the  Bo'son,  and  requested  him  to  drive  the  animal 
out,  and  put  up  the  fence. 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answered  Bill,  touching  his  hat,  and 
moving  towards  the  pasture. 

The  Bo'son  saw  at  a  glance  that  all  family  difficulties 
had  been  satisfactorily  arranged,  and  a  telegraphic  dis 
patch,  received  from  Susie's  eyes,  told  all  that  he  cared 
then  to  learn,  and  put  him  in  the  very  best  of  spirits. 

Captain  Waters,  when  he  saw  the  Bo'son  moving  on  the 
steer,  said  to  the  family: 

"  If  the  Bo'son  don't  get  into  a  scrape  before  that  steer 
leaves  the  pasture,  I  shall  be  mistaken,  and  it  will  be  the 
first  new  thing  that  he  has  done,  without  encountering 
difficulties. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  l  ? 5 

The  steer  had  broken  the  two  upper  rails  in  a  length 
of  fence,  and  then  jumped  the  others  into  the  pasture. 
The  Bo'son  reasoned  that  if  the  animal  could  jump  into 
the  pasture,  he  could  jump  out,  and  Bill  attempted  to 
make  him  do  so  ;  but  though  the  steer  was  chased  a  num 
ber  of  times  around  the  enclosure,  he  showed  no  dispo 
sition  to  leave  such  good  feeding  ground.  At  length  the 
Bo'son  got  the  animal  by  the  tail,  and  they  both  went 
around  together  ;  the  Bo'son,  as  was  his  custom,  talking 
to  himself. 

"Run  now,  do  your  best,  the  Bo'son  has  you  by  the 
tail ;  I  have  been  fast  to  bigger  things  than  you  are,  when 
I  was  a  whaling.  I  never  cut  my  line,  and  you  must  go 
out  of  this  before  I  let  go  of  your  tail,  old  calf." 

These  expressions  seemed  to  come  from  Bill's  lips  in  a 
jerking  kind  of  way,  but  the  steer  and  Bo'son  were  both 
on  a  smart  run. '  After  running  a  number  of  times  around 
the  pasture,  which  was  not  large,  the  steer  made  an  extra 
jump  in  crossing  a  small,  dry  ditch,  and  the  Bo'son 's  tar 
paulin  hat  went  off,  going  a  number  of  feet  above  his  head. 
The  old  dog,  from  some  comfortable  place  where  he  had 
been  sleeping,  made  his  way  to  the  piazza  just  as  the 
Bo'son's  hat  went  into  the  air,  and  seeing  it,  knew  that 
his  master  must  be  there,  though  he  couldn't  see  him,  be 
ing  too  low  in  stature  for  that.  One  encouraging  word 
from  the  Captain,  and  Bose  went  to  the  assistance  of  his 
master. 

When  the  dog  reached  the  pasture,  his  master  and  the 
steer  were  still  making  their  rounds,  and  the  Bo'son  still 
having  the  animal  by  the  tail.  The  dog  appeared  to  think 
that  it  was  rare  sport,  and  readily  joined  in  it,  by  running 
at  the  side  of  the  steer,  shaking  his  tail  and  barking 
cheerfully.  When  the  dog  came  to  his  master's  hat,  he 
considered  it  his  duty  to  take  care  of  it ;  so  picking  it  up, 
he  ran  again  to  the  steer,  and  to  his  head,  shaking  the  hat 
and  long  ribbon  on  it  in  the  face  of  the  animal.  He 
would  drop  the  hat,  have  a  few  barks,  then  run  back,  pick 
up  the  hat  and  again  shake  it  in  the  face  of  the  steer, 
which  he  continued  repeating,  in  the  apparent  belief  that 
it  was  the  finest  sport  he  had  enjoyed  in  a  long  time. 


,;6  CAPTAIN  WAFERS 

The  Bo'son  was  so  out  of  breath,  that  he  couldn't  direct 
the  dog,  for  the  more  the  dog  barked  and  shook  the  hat 
in  his  face,  the  faster  the  steer  run.  At  last  the  Bo'son 
found  that  his  patience  was  leaving  him  with  his  breath, 
though  at  first  he  liked  the  fun  of  running  around,  fast 
to  the  steer's  tail;  but  he  was  growing  a  little  tired  of 
it,  and  tried  to  talk  to  the  dog,  out  of  breath  as  he  was. 

"  Yo  yoo-you  con-tempt-i-ble  cu-cu,"  and  the  steer 
again  jumped  the  dry  ditch,  when  Bill  finished  the  word 
"  cuss." 

Bill  afterwards  said  that  he  intended  calling  the  dog  a 
contemptible  cur,  but  only  succeeded  with  great  difficulty 
in  saying  "  contemptible  cu,"  when  the  "  'tarnal  critter  " 
jumped  the  ditch  and  jerked  the  double  "  s  "  out  before  he 
could  shut  his  mouth,  making  cuss  for  cur.  A  moment 
after  Bill  had  called  his  dog  a  hard  name,  the  steer,  in 
turning  short  in  a  corner  of  the  pasture,  threw  the 
Bo'son,  and  they  parted  company. 

Bose  was  at  his  master's  side  the  instant  he  was  on 
the  ground,  and  ready  to  help  him  up.  When  the 
Bo'son  got  on  his  feet,  he  said  : 

"  You  good  for  nothing  dog ;  what  do  you  mean  ?  I 
am  ashamed  of  you.  ""ou  are  not  half  a  sailor.  Go 
bring  that  hat  here." 

Poor  Bose  was  greatly  disappointed.  He  expected 
praise,  and  had  been  more  severely  censured  than  ever 
before,  and  couldn't  understand  it.  He  had  done  his 
best  to  keep  up  the  sport,  and  been  scolded  for  it.  With 
his  head  and  tail  drooping,  he  took  the  hat  to  his  master, 
and  then  at  a  little  distance  sat  down,  and  looked  upon 
the  ground  as  though  engaged  in  thought,  and  expecting 
trouble  The  Bo'son  soon  recovered  his  breath  and 
good  nature,  and  feeling  that  he  had  done  the  dog  in 
justice,  called  him  kindly,  patting  him  on  the  head,  and 
saying : 

"  It  wasn't  your  fault  after  all,  was  it,  Bose?  I  couldn't 
tell  you  what  to  do,  and  how  should  you  know  ?  You  are 
a  good  old  dog  any  how." 

The  dog  appeared  to  understand  and  appreciate  what 
was  being  said  to  him,  and  became  reconciled. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  z  7 7 

"  Now,  old  dog,  lend  the  Bo'son  a  hand  to  chase  or 
tow  that  craft  out  of  the  harbor?  " 

The  dog  gave  one  short  bark,  which  the  Bo'son  under 
stood.  Bill  went  and  opened  the  gate,  which  he  should 
have  done  in  the  first  place,  and  then  said  to  the  dog  : 

"  You  go  and  make  fast  to  him  forward,  and  I  will 
make  fast  again  aft,  and  if  he  don't  tow  easy,  we  will  an 
chor  him,"  which  meant  to  throw  him  down. 

The  dog  obeyed,  and  soon  had  the  steer  fast  by  the 
nose,  and  then  the  Bo'son  found  no  difficulty  in  again  get 
ting  him  by  the  tail.  The  steer  under  such  circumstances 
couldn't  run,  and  the  Bo'son  with  his  dog  had  a  good 
time,  both  working  hard,  and  both  enjoying  the  sport. 
They  had  succeeded  in  getting  him  near  the  gate,  when 
the  animal  stopped,  and  Bo'son  said: 

"  Bose,  we  are  hard  and  fast  aground.  Hang  to  him, 
old  dog  ;  rouse  his  head  up  stream." 

The  dog  pulled  the  animals's  head  towards  the  gate, 
when  Bill  sang  out : 

"There,  hold  on  all  you  have  got,  while  I  bouse  his 
stern  to  windward." 

Then  the  Bo'son  hauled  his  end  of  the  steer  a  little 
nearer  the  gate.  Under  the  same  order,  the  dog  worked 
the  head  of  the  beast  again  towards  the  gate,  and  held  it 
there  while  Bill  worked  the  other  end  of  the  animal  that 
way  ;  and  so,  little  by  little,  they  got  the  steer  into  the 
road,  when  the  Bo'son  sung  out,  as  though  he  had  been 
on  shipboard  : 

"  Let  go  forward,  Bose  !  "  At  the  same  time  letting  go 
himself  aft,  and  giving  the  steer  a  good  kick.  The  ani 
mal  started  down  the  road  on  the  run,  and  Bill  shouted : 

"  There  she  goes  down  stream  under  full  sail ;  studden- 
sails  on  both  sides." 

The  Bo'son  soon  convinced  the  dog  that  his  master 
entertained  no  unkind  feelings  towards  him  for  not  under 
standing  and  doing  his  duty  at  the  beginning,  repaired  the 
fence,  and  went  to  the  house. 

The  family  on  the  piazza  enjoyed  the  sport ;  and  the 
Captain  laughed  until  the  big  tears  rolled  down  his  face, 
and  when  he  could  speak,  said : 


178  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  William,  if  it  wasn't  for  the  Bo'son,  I  should  some 
times  be  at  a  loss  for  amusement." 

"  I  have  enjoyed  this  last  exploit  as  much  as  you  have, 
father." 

"  Wait  a  little,  William,  till  the  Bo'son  comes  here  to 
report,  and  hear  what  he  says." 

Bill,  with  the  dog  at  his  side,  walked  up  to  the  piazza; 
touching  his  hat,  said: 

"  Orders  obeyed,  sir.  The  steer  has  gone  to  sea,  and 
by  this  time  is  out  of  sight  of  land." 

"You  had  a  rough  time  of  it,  Bo'son,"  said  the 
captain. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  when  I  first  went  on  board,  I  was  '  short 
handed,  and  he  out-towed  me ; '  but  after  the  dog  got 
along  side,  and  I  could  give  him  orders,  we  managed  to 
haul  him  square  to  windward  against  the  tide  till  we 
worked  him  into  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and  then  sent 
him  a-flying  to  sea." 

"You  have  done  well,  Bo'son,  as  you  generally  do." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  When  the  Bo'son  and  dog  undertake 
a  job,  they  always  manage  to  do  it,  in  some  way." 

"  That  is  so,  Bill  ;  and  now  I  hear  the  supper  bell,"  said 
the  Captain. 

The  Bo'son  again  touched  his  hat,  and  left  with  his 
dog  for  the  midship-house. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

SUSIE    AND    JULIA     TALK,    AND    MR.    MORTON    AND    JULIA 
WRITE. 

'"THAT  night,  after  retiring  from  the  sitting-room,  Susie 
A  and  her  cousin  Julia  had  a  very  long  conversation 
together.  Julia  had  asked  no  questions,  but  felt  assured 
that  her  uncle  and  aunt  had  failed  in  persuading  Susie  to 
accept  the  offer  made  her  by  Mr.  Livingston. 

After  conversing  on  other  subjects  for  some  time,  with 
more  freedom  on  the  part  of  Julia  than  she  had  mani- 


AMD  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  !79 

Tested  towards  her  cousin  since  Frank  left  the  farm,  she 
said  : 

"  Cousin,  have  you  at  last  concluded  to  be  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Livingston  ?  " 

"  No ;  my  father  and  mother,  after  hearing  all  my 
reasons  for  not  accepting. his  offer,  have  both  ceased  to 
wish  him  to  become  my  husband,  and  commend  me  for 
declining  to  be  his  wife." 

"  That  appears  very  strange  to  me,  Susie,  when  they 
have  been  so  anxious  and  so  earnest  about  it  What 
could  have  so  changed  their  views  and  wishes  ?  "  , 

"  I  will  freely  and  frankly  tell  you,  cousin  Julia.  When 
they  wished  him  to  become  a  member  of  the  family,  they 
knew  nothing  of  his  character  and  habits.  Now  they 
know  all  about  him,  and  my  father  would  not  consent  to 
the  union  if  Mr.  Livingston  '  was  worth  his  weight  in  dia 
monds,  and  was  full  brother  of  a  king.'  If  I  now  wished 
it  myself,  the  consent  of  my  father  and  mother  could  not 
be  obtained.  You  must  know  that  there  are  some  strong 
objections  to  our  union,  some  good  and  powerful  reasons, 
or  my  parents  would  not  have  relinquished  such  long 
cherished  desires  ;  and  I  still  entertain  some  hopes  that 
the  same  reasons  which  have  so  changed  the  wishes  of  my 
parents,  will  change  yours.  Do  not,  Julia,  throw  away 
every  chance  of  future  happiness,  which  you  will  do  if 
you  become  the  wife  of  Frank  Livingston.  You  may,  for 
a  very  brief  time,  move  in  fashionable  society,  but  you  will 
know  nothing  of  real  happiness." 

*'  I  believe  you  are  sincere,  Susie,  but  how  little  you 
know  of  real  life,  and  the  charming  and  thrilling  delights 
of  fashionable  society.  It  is  you  who  have  thrown  away 
one  of  the  best  chances  a  young  woman  ever  had  of  being 
happy.  When  such  a  chance  comes  to  me,  if  I  am  fool 
enough  to  reject  it,  then  may  I  be  wretched  all  the  re 
mainder  of  my  life.  All  that  I  hope  for  is,  that  I  may 
have  an  opportunity  of  displaying  my  wisdom  and  good 
judgment,  in  accepting  an  offer  of  marriage  from  Frank 
Livingston." 

"  I  have  told  you  enough,  Julia,  of  his  habits,  to  suffi 
ciently  warn  you  of  the  danger  to  your  happiness  in  such 


T8o  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

a  union.  Don't  deceive  yourself,  and  sacrifice  the  future 
for  the  present.  Remember  that  there  is  a  near,  as  well 
as  a  far  future,  and  for  both  we  should  be  prepared  and 
provided." 

"  Once  for  all  again  I  tell  you,  that  if  I  receive,  I  shall 
accept  his  offer.  I  am  bound  to  have  a  rich  husband  if  I 
can  get  one.  I  have  been  educated  for  such  a  condition 
in  life,  have  been  brought  up  a  lady,  and  my  mother  has 
been  my  servant  when  I  had  no  other,  and  now  she  is 
getting  old  and  feeble,  and  I  want  money  to  hire  servants, 
— a  want  my  father  can't  supply.  I  do  not  mean  to  work 
myself,  I  don't  like  it,  and  I  don't  think  it  would  agree 
with  me.  The  idea  of  my  getting  up  in  the  morning  and 
preparing  breakfast  for  a  toiling  husband!  No  matter  what 
else  he  might  be,  if  he  was  poor,  he  wouldn't  be  loved  by 
Julia  Fizzlebaugh.  You  know  that  I  never  get  up  in  time 
to  eat  breakfast  with  people  who  are  unfashionable  and 
vulgar  enough  to  rise  early  in  the  morning ;  and  how  can 
it  be  expected  for  me  to  do  things  that  I  have  not  been 
educated  to,  and  have  no  taste  for." 

"  Julia,  you  have,  I  think,  very  erroneous  ideas  oi  life, 
its  duties  and  pleasures.  Future  years  of  disappointment, 
sorrow  and  suffering,  will  teach  you  wisdom,  when  too  late 
for  you  to  profit  by  it.  It  is  not  all  your  fault.  It  is  the 
fault  of  your  parents  in  educating  you  with  no  higher  as 
pirations,  no  nobler  aims,  than  a  rich  husband  and  the  en 
joyments  of  fashionable  society.  It  is  growing  late  and 
we  should  retire;  but  think,  dear  cousin,  these  things  over 
seriously,  and  endeavor  to  arrive  at  wiser  conclusions 
than  you  have  yet  reached." 

Julia  did  think  seriously  of  all  the  matters  that  had 
been  spoken  of,  and  concluded  that  her  cousin  was  a 
beautiful,  kind-hearted,  well-meaning  simpleton,  emi 
nently  fitted  by  nature  and  education  -to  adorn  some 
sea-side  or  country  cottage,  and  share  it  with  a  frugal 
and  ever-toiling  husband  ;  and  that  she,  herself,  was 
fitted  and  destined  to  reign  a  queen  in  the  fashionable 
world. 

Susie  pitied  her  cousin,  and  hoped  that  what  had  been 
told  her  of  Frank  Livingston  and  his  habits  would  have 


BILL,  til S  BO' SOti.  jgt 

been  a  sufficient  warning, — but  with  his  money  and  char 
acter  (both  having  been  inherited,  and  both  in  a  fair 
way  of  being  sacrificed  on  the  alter  of  his  folly),  no 
matter  what  might  be  his  faults  or  his  habits,  they  would 
not  weigh  against  his  wealth  and  position  in  society, 
and  he  would  be  an  acceptable  offering  to  her. 

It  was  long  after  Susie  left  her  cousin,  and  retired 
to  her  bed,  before  she  closed  her  eyes  in  slumber.  The 
one  great  disturbing  subject,  which  had  in  some  form  pre 
vented  her  from  enjoying  all  the  pleasures  of  country 
life,  was  now  finally  disposed  of,  and  with  less  difficulty 
than  she  had  anticipated.  Her  father  and  mother  were 
satisfied,  and  there  was  nothing  but  love  and  harmony  in 
the  family.  It  was  true  that  Susie  Morton  felt  sorry  and 
anxious  for  her  cousin,  but  felt  that  she  had  done  all  in 
her  power  to  save  Julia  from  future  wretchedness. 

There  was  with  Susie  another  cause  of  anxiety,  known 
only  to  herself.  George  Wilson  at  sea  ;  she  dearly  loved 
him,  but  knew  not  whether  he  loved  her  in  return.  They 
had  been  much  together,  and  were  like  brother  and  sister, 
but  that  was  not  sufficient  to  satisfy  such  a  warm  and 
loving  heart  as  dwelt  in  the  bosom  of  Susie  Morton. 

All  that  had  been  said  and  acted  in  the  parlor  during 
the  day,  passed  in  review  before  her  mind,  and  all  the 
feelings  which  she  had  entertained  at  different  periods  of 
that  long  interview,  were  again  her  companions  ;  and  at 
last  she  came  to  the  closing  scene  of  the  Bo'son  and  the 
steer,  and  then  in  spite  of  her  previous  reflections,  she 
was  induced  to  laugh,  though  only  slightly  and  to  herself, 
which  put  her  in  a  frame  of  mind  to  sleep.  With  the 
Bo'son,  dog,  and  the  amusement  they  furnished  in  their 
contest  with  the  steer,  last  on  her  mind,  Susie  slept,  was 
refreshed,  and  during  the  night  enjoyed  pleasant  dreams. 

Early  the  next  morning,  William  Morton  addressed  the 
following  business-like  letter  to  Mr.  Livingston  : 

WATERS'  SNUG  HARBOR,  September  loth,  185 — . 
FRANK  LIVINGSTON,  Esq.,  Saratoga  Springs  :— 

Dear  Sir — The  contemplated  visit  here  has  been  made, 
and  the  conversation  with  my  daughter  taken  place. 


,8a  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Susie  takes  the  same  view  of  your  offer  no\v,  which  she  did 
when  it  was  made,  and  the  answer  she  then  gave  you 
must  be  considered  final.  After  listening  to  all  the  rea 
sons  given  by  my  daughter  for  declining  your  offer,  neither 
Mrs.  Morton  nor  myself  could  urge  upon  her  the  accep 
tance  of  it ;  nor  would  Susie's  grandparents  recommend 
such  a  course.  However  long  you  may  have  cherished 
the  wish  and  the  hope  of  having  my  daughter  for  a  wife, 
and  however  much  I  may  have  encouraged  you,  I  have 
now  to  inform  you,  that  circumstances  over  which  I  have 
no  control,  forbid  such  a  union,  and  prevent  me  from 
recommending  it  to  my  daughter.  Wishing  you  health, 
happiness,  and  prosperity,  I  remain 

Your  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  MORTON. 

Julia  Fizzlebaugh  also  wrote  and  mailed  a  letter  to 
Mr.  Livingston. 

"WATERS'  SNUG  HARBOR,  September  ioth,  185-. 
"  My  Dear  Friend: — Yesterday  was  an  important  day 
here,  and  until  late  in  the  afternoon  I  hoped  that  you 
were  not  doomed  to  disappointment.  The  father  and 
mother  of  my  cousin  were  not  able  to  persuade  her  to 
accept  your  noble  and  generous  offer.  Susie  is  a  very 
headstrong  girl,  and  when  excited,  ungovernable.  I  pre 
sume  that  you  will  learn  the  final  decision  from  my  uncle. 
Nothing  has  been  said  on  the  subject,  except  among  them 
selves.  What  I  know  about  it  has  been  communicated  to 
me  by  my  cousin,  who  has  constantly  said  to  me  :  '  Ju 
lia,  your  pleading  for  Mr.  Livingston  is  all  in  vain.  I 
shall  never  be  his  wife.'  My  anxiety  to  see  you  happy 
has  in  this  case  urged  me  to  greater  efforts  than  it  would 
have  been  possible  for  any  other  cause  to  have  done,  and 
the  long  and  close  intimacy  existing  between  my  cousin 
and  myself  has  given  me  opportunities  that  no  other  per 
son  could  have  enjoyed.  Susie  has  been  very  free  with 
me  on  all  subjects  but  her  reasons  for  not  accepting  your 
offer.  On  that  subject  she  is  silent.  Notwithstanding 
that  my  heart  aches  for  you  in  your  disappointment,  I  am 


AND  BILL,  ttiS  BO'SOtf.  jg3 

ft /I  in  the  belief  that,  after  a  little  reflection,  you  will 
conclude  that  it  was  more  for  your  happiness  to  be  re 
jected  than  to  have  been  accepted.  When  you  marry, 
you  want  a  wife  with  a  large  and  noble  heart,  capable  of 
receiving,  appreciating,  and  returning  such  love  as  you 
would  bestow.  Susie  Morton  is  sadly  deficient  in  all  the 
requisite  qualifications,  to  be  the  wife  of  such  a  noble- 
hearted  man.  That  you  may  find  one  worthy  of  you,  and 
with  her  long  enjoy  the  happiness  you  so  richly  deserve, 
is,  and  ever  will  be,  the  wish  of 

Yours,  very  truly, 

JULIA  FIZZLEBAUGH 
To  FRANK  LIVINGSTON,  Esq.,  Saratoga  Springs. 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 

JULIA  FIZZLEBAUGH  RECEIVES  AN  OFFER. 

FRANK  Livingston  received  the  letters  from  Mr.  Mor 
ton  and  Julia  at  the  same  time.  He  was  disap 
pointed  when  he  offered  himself  to  Susie  and  was  refused, 
but  far  more  disappointed  after  reading  the  letter  from 
Mr.  Morton.  He  was  in  the  full  belief  that  Susie  would 
listen  to  her  parents,  and  comply  with  their  wishes.  The 
parents  had  assured  him  that  such  would  be  the  result  of 
their  visit  to  the  farm.  Mr.  Livingston  was  satisfied  that 
it  was  now  useless  for  him  to  entertain  any  hopes  of  a 
change  in  his  favor.  He  was  disappointed  in  love,  and 
must  lose  all  the  foolish  wagers  he  had  made,  that  within 
a  stated  time  Susie  Morton  would  be  Mrs.  Livingston. 
The  wagers  were  large,  but  his  fortune  was  so  ample  that 
they  would  not  materially  inconvenience  him,  as  he  could 
raise  the  money  by  a  mortgage  on  some  of  his  real  estate. 
It  was  the  jeers  of  his  friends  among  sporting  men  that 
he  most  dreaded. 

When  not  under  the  influence  of  strong  drink,  Frank 
Livingston  had  too  nice  and  delicate  a  sense  of  what 
belonged  to  the  proprieties  of  life,  to  have  made  any 


,84  CAPTAftf  WATERS 

wager  to  be  decided  by  the  action  of  a  young  lady  whom 
he  would  gladly  accept  as  a  wife.  Of  late  he  had  been 
so  constantly  under  the  effects  of  stimulants,  that  he  was 
hardly  capable  of  forming  a  correct  opinion  on  any  dif 
ficult  subject.  He  had  not  lost  his  pride,  and  was  deter 
mined  to  maintain  it,  notwithstanding  his  disappointment, 
and  felt  that  he  must  do  something  brilliant,  which  would 
eclipse  the  past,  and  create  for  the  present  a  new  subject 
for  gossip. 

Frank  walked  the  floor  for  some  time  in  deep  thought; 
stung  to  madness  by  his  disappointments  and  loss  of 
money,  and  acting  under  the  influence  of  over-excited 
feelings,  he  arrived  at  conclusions  that  he  would  never 
have  reached  in  his  calmer  moments.  He  read  Julia's 
letter  a  second  time,  and  in  his  own  mind  concluded  that 
she  must  be  a  perfect  angel, — one  of  the  most  lovely  and 
disinterested  beings  who  had  ever  inhabited  this  earth. 
Julia  had  labored  so  earnestly  in  his  cause,  and  used 
such  noble  efforts  to  aid  him  in  accomplishing  his  object, 
and  after  failing  in  it,  had  expressed  so  much  sympathy 
for  him  in  his  disappointment,  and  also  expressed  such 
solicitude  for  his  future  happiness,  that  she  must,  indeed, 
be  a  noble-hearted  woman.  He  would  write  her  im 
mediately  and  ask  her  to  meet  him  in  New  York,  and 
would  there  offer  himself  in  marriage  to  her,  feeling  cer 
tain  that  she  would  accept  the  offer,  and  when  married  he 
would,  with  a  woman  worthy  of  his  love  and  companion 
ship,  make  such  a  display  of  his  wealth  and  power  in  the 
fashionable  world,  as  would  teach  the  Waters'  and  Mor 
tons'  what  they  had  lost  in  rejecting  a  rich  young  gentle 
man,  belonging  to  one  of  the  old  families.  Mr.  Living 
ston  also  decided  in  his  wrathy  and  vengeful  mood  that 
should  he  ever  meet  with  George  Wilson  in  this  world, 
that  he  would  pull  his  nose, — an  act  which  would  have 
been  very  hazardous  to  the  health  of  Mr.  Frank  Liv 
ingston. 

Frank  had  worked  himself  into  such  a  state  of  mind 
that  he  would  gladly  have  annihilated  time,  space,  and 
many  other  things  besides  the  nose  of  George  Wilson,  so 
he  did  one  of  the  foolishest  things  that  he  could  have 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  *  SON.  ^ 

done  under  the  circumstances.  He  wrote  a  letter  to  Julia 
Fizzlebaugh,  to  which  he  wanted  an  immediate  answer, 
and  wouldn't  wait  for  the  mails.  By  one  of  his  servants, 
dressed  in  his  livery,  and  driving  one  of  his  horses,  he  sent 
to  Julia  this  letter  : 

"  SARATOGA  SPRINGS,  September  i2th,  185 — . 
"Miss  JULIA  FIZZLEBAUGH: — 

"My  dearest  friend — Your  esteemed  favor  of  the  xoth 
instant  reached  me  only  this  morning.  I  freely  confess 
to  you  that  it  gave  me  great  pleasure.  The  knowledge 
that  I  am  no  longer  bound  by  my  offer  to  Miss  Morton  is 
indeed  a  great  relief  to  me.  I  am  now  satisfied  that 
united  in  marriage,  we  could  not  have  been  happy  to 
gether,  and  that  we  were  not  designed  for  each  other. 
Our  tastes,  desires  and  habits  are  not  in  harmony.  Miss 
Morton,  to  be  happy,  must  have  a  husband  with  a  differ 
ent  disposition  than  I  possess,  and  with  different  associ 
ations  than  I  am  surrounded  with.  I,  to  be  happy,  must 
have  a  wife  who  with  me  can  enter  into  all  the  gayeties 
of  fashionable  life,  and  with  me  enjoy  them.  Your  inter 
est  in  my  behalf,  your  sympathy  for  what  you  supposed 
was  a  great  disappointment  to  me,  and  the  kind  advice 
you  were  pleased  to  offer,  have  placed  me  under  such 
great  obligations  to  you,  that  a  lifetime  only,  can 
cancel  them.  It  will  be  my  greatest  pleasure,  in  the 
future,  to  show  by  every  act  of  mine,  how  much  you  have 
become  endeared  to  me.  Please  inform  me,  by  the  re 
turn  of  the  bearer,  when  you  propose  leaving  the  farm  of 
your  uncle,  and  when  I  can  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
you  in  the  city.  I  have  much  that  I  wish  to  communi 
cate  to  you,  that  will  be  interesting  to  us  both,  and  hope 
the  day  is  not  distant  when  we  shall  understand  and  more 
fully  appreciate  each  other.  I  have  been  living  on  fancies 
and  dreams,  existing  in  fairy  lands  ;  in  future  I  must  en 
joy  the  realities  of  life,  and  depend  on  you,  to  lead  and 
guide  me  to  true  happiness  ;  that  is,  if  you  will  kindly 
accept  such  a  mission.  Hoping  to  receive  a  few  lines 
from  you  by  the  return  messenger,  I  remain,  with  rreat 
esteem,  "  Affectionately  yours, 

"  FRANK  LIVINGSTON." 


j86  CAPTAIK  ITATEXS 

The  messenger  from  the  Springs  appeared  at  the  farm, 
and  inquired  for  Miss  Julia  Fizzlebaugh,  saying  that  he 
had  a  letter  for  her  from  Mr.  Livingston,  and  was  directed 
to  wait  for  an  answer.  Neither  master  nor  the  servant 
showed  wisdom  or  judgment  in  what  they  had  done ;  the 
master  must  have  been  drunk,  and  the  servant  a  fool. 
Julia  made  her  appearance,  received  the  letter,  and  re 
tired  to  her  room  to  read  and  answer  it. 

The  circumstances  under  which  she  received  the  letter, 
in  the  presence  of  the  whole  family,  embarrassed  Julia  ; 
but  the  contents  of  the  letter  were  really  astonishing  to 
her.  All  that  Julia  had  hoped  for  came  so  suddenly 
and  unexpectedly,  that  she  was  not  in  the  least  prepared 
for  it.  She  read  the  letter  over  a  number  of  times, 
weighing  in  her  mind  the  full  meaning  of  each  ex 
pression,  and  concluded  that  the  letter  was,  if  not  an  offer 
of  marriage,  something  very  near  it.  After  thinking  it  over 
as  long  as  it  was  prudent  to  keep  the  servant  waiting, 
she  wrote  as  follows  : 

"WATERS'  SNUG  HARBOR,  September  i2th,  185 — . 
"Dear  Friend — Your  kindly  expressed  note  of  this  date 
has  just  been  placed  in  my  hands  by  your  servant.  Its 
contents  are  of  such  a  character,  and  you  express  so 
much  confidence  in  my  being  able  to  aid  you  in  your 
pursuit  after  happiness,  that  I  am  alarmed  at  my  own 
weakness,  fearing  that  my  efforts  may  not  be  equal  to 
my  wishes,  or  your  expectations.  Be  assured,  however, 
my  dearest  friend,  that  I  have  earnestly  hoped  for  your 
happiness,  without  ever  dreaming  that  I  should  be  the 
means  of  contributing  to  it.  All  that  I  can  do,  all  the 
heart  and  soul  of  affection  that  I  have  to  give,  shall  be 
yours.  Previous  to  receiving  your  letter,  I  had  arranged 
to  return  to  the  city  with  my  uncle  and  aunt,  reaching 
there  on  the  morning  of  the  i8th  instant.  Your  letter 
has  made  me  more  anxious  for  the  time  to  arrive,  than  I 
was  before  receiving  it.  When  in  the  city,  and  at  my 
father's  house,  I  shall  be  pleased  to  see  you,  and  learn 
how  I  can  make  you  very,  very  happy. 

"  Yours  in  true  affection, 
"  FRANK  LIVINGSTON.  "JULIA." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON:  !  8 7 

Julia,  with  her  utmost  efforts,  was  unable  to  hide  within 
herself,  her  joy.  Under  any  other  circumstances  but  those 
occurring  in  the  family  so  recently,  she  would  have  told 
all  that  was  in  the  letter  just  received.  Appearances  justi 
fied  the  family  in  believing  that  Julia  had  all  the  time 
been  a  spy  on  their  actions,  and  corresponding  with  Frank 
Livingston.  Under  such  embarrassments,  nothing  could 
be  explained  without  telling  the  whole,  and  the  time  had 
not  come  for  that,  so  Julia  concluded  to  wait  and  let  mat 
ters  explain  themselves. 

Susie  Morton  was  the  only  one  in  the  family  who  sus 
pected  the  truth,  and  the  whole  truth  didn't  suggest  itself 
to  her  mind,  not  thinking  that  Mr.  Livingston  would,  so 
soon  after  being  refused  by  one,  offer  himself  to  another. 

How  little  the  pure-hearted  Susie  Morton  knew  of  the 
motives  and  feelings  that  would  prompt  such  a  man  to 
action  ?  Little  did  Susie  think  that  madness  and  revenge 
would  induce  Frank  to  marry  her  cousin.  Could  Susie 
have  penetrated  all  the  secrets  of  his  faithless  and  impure 
heart,  she  would  have  shrunk  from  him  with  greater  hor 
ror  than  she  felt  when  her  father  urged  her  acceptance  of 
his  offer.  Believing  that  the  letter  Julia  had  received  re 
lated  in  part  to  herself,  and  in  part  to  Julia's  future,  Susie 
felt  some  anxiety  to  learn  the  contents  of  that  letter,  if 
they  could  be  revealed  without  a  betrayal  of  confidence 
on  the  part  of  her  cousin.  When  the  cousins  retired  to 
their  room,  Julia,  though  still  manifesting  strong  symptons 
of  great  delight,  appeared  a  little  disturbed  and  flustered 
in  her  mind,  when  Susie  asked  : 

"Cousin  Julia,  did  the  letter  you  received  from  Mr. 
Livingston  relate  to  you  or  me  ?  " 

"  Both,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Are  the  contents  a  secret  ?  " 

"  Not  to  you,  Susie,  under  a  promise  that  you  keep, 
them  until  I  leave  the  farm." 

"  Let  it  be  so,  then,  as  I  can  have  no  object  in  making 
known  the  contents  of  the  letter." 

Julia  handed  the  letter  to  her  cousin,  and  Susie  care 
fully  read  it,  and  when  returning  it  Julia  saw  that  her 
cousin's  eyes  were  filled  with  tears,  and  said  : 


!88  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  I  thought,  Susie,  that  you  would  repent  when  too 
late." 

"  I  am  not  weeping  for  myself,  but  for  you.  Could  I 
by  any  possible  means  dissuade  you  from  being  the  wife 
of  Frank  Livingston,  I  should  feel  very  happy.  I  have 
told  you  of  his  habits,  and  know  that  all  your  fond  hopes 
will  soon  be  blighted,  and  that  for  your  folly  you  will  be 
miserable." 

"  With  plenty  of  money,  and  a  high  position  in  the  fash 
ionable  world,  I  am  not  afraid  that  misery  will  overtake 
me.  I  will  show  you,  cousin,  between  now  and  next 
spring,  what  real  life  means  and  is.  I  did  not  expect  so 
soon  to  be  gratified  in  my  wishes,  but  fortune  has  favored 
me,  and  I  am  her  pet  child." 

Susie  had  so  frequently  and  so  earnestly  pleaded  with 
her  cousin,  without  effect,  that  she  concluded  it  would  be 
useless  to  offer  any  additional  advice,  and  so  wished  Julia 
good  night. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

THE  BO'SON  PLOWS,  AND  THE  OXEN  TURN  THEIR  YOKE. 

SUSIE  Morton  had  a  long  talk  with  the  Bo'son  the  day 
after  the  meeting  of  the  family  in  the  parlor,  and 
told  him  all  that  was  proper  for  him  to  know,  and  enough 
to  put  his  mind  at  perfect  ease  about  herself.  The  Bo'son 
was  greatly  relieved  of  his  anxiety  after  he  was  satisfied 
that  Captain  Waters  was  opposed  to  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Livingston  and  "black-eyed  Susan."  Bill  Thomas  had 
so  long  been  accustomed  to  regard  Captain  and  Mrs. 
Waters  as  superior  beings,  able  to  accomplish  whatever 
they  desired,  that  he  really  felt  that  Susie  was  safe,  when 
they  promised  their  aid  and  protection.  The  Bo'son, 
however,  concluded  that  he  and  the  dog  might  yet  be 
needed  to  guard  and  protect  his  "morning-glory."  From 
the  time  that  Mr.  Livingston  first  appeared  at  the  farm, 
the  Bo'son  had  slept  with  his  clothes  on,  and  the  dog  at 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  ISg 

the  side  of  his  bed,  that  he  might  be  ready  at  a  moment's 
call  to  place  himself  between  Susie  Morton  and  any  dan 
ger  of  her  being  run  away  with  by  Mr.  Livingston.  He 
could  sleep  well,  because  the  dog  was  ordered  to  watch, 
and  Bill  could  depend  on  him  to  give  the  alarm  if  any 
thing  moved  around,  near  the  house. 

When  the  letter  was  brought  to  Julia  by  a  servant  of 
Mr.  Livingston,  the  Bo'son  concluded  that  there  was  a 
conspiracy,  and  would  be  a  mutiny.  His  captain  being 
"  on  board,"  the  Bo'son  knew  he  must  wait  for  orders, 
and  having  such  confidence  in  his  commander,  he  was 
sure  that  they  could  suppress  the  mutiny.  After  the 
servant  had  left  with  Julia's  answer,  the  Bo'son  from  Liz 
zie  learned  all  that  could  then  be  known ;  also  the  sus 
picions  of  Lizzie,  that  Julia  Fizzlebaugh  would,  at  some 
day  not  far  distant,  be  the  wife  of  Frank  Livingston. 

It  is  wonderful  to  notice  the  faculty  of  a  naturally 
smart  woman,  who  has  long  been  domesticated  in  a  fam 
ily,  of  finding  out,  or  suspecting  events,  long  before  they 
occur.  That  faculty  is  always  displayed  in  an  eminent 
degree  in  all  matters  relating  to  love,  courtship  and  mar 
riage.  The  Bo'son  had  some  suspicions,  but  they  were 
so  vague  as  to  amount  to  nothing,  that  he  could  satisfy 
his  own  mind  about.  The  first  opportunity  he  had  of 
seeing  Susie,  he  asked  : 

"  Sunshine,  is  the  flying-sky-sail  going  to  be  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Livingston?" 

"  Bo'son,  what  makes  you  call  my  cousin  such  unheard- 
of  names  ?  I  am  most  a  mind  not  to  answer  you,  or  tell 
you  what  I  think." 

"  I  call  her  '  flying-sky-sail '  because  she  is  furled  most 
of  the  time,  and  only  used  in  light  winds." 

"  Bo'son,  how  can  you  expect  me  to  understand  your 
sea  language  ?  In  answer  to  your  question,  all  I  can  say 
is  I  don't  know,  but  fear  Julia  will  be  Mrs.  Livingston." 

"  I  hope,"  said  the  Bo'son,  "  she  will,  for  she  is  good 
for  nothing  else,  but  to  be  the  wife  of  such  a  worthless 
fellow,  and  hardly  fit  for  that." 

"  Bo'son,  how  can  you  use  such  language  about  Julia  ? 
You  mustn't  do  it,  or  I  shall  run  away  and  leave  you." 


I9o  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  You  know,  rose-bud,  as  well  as  I  do,  that  Miss  '  Fiz- 
zlebob  '  never  4  stands  a  watch,'  day  or  night ;  never  '  goes 
aloft;'  never 'steers  a  trick;'  don't  help  '  take  in '  nor 
'discharge  cargo,'  and  that  she  lets  her  poor,  feeble 
mother  do  double  duty,  while  she  '  sogers '  about,  doing 
nothing.  Now,  I  say  such  a  girl  isn't  worth  ship-room, 
and  isn't  fit  to  lay  things  to." 

*'  Bo'son,  I  am  ashamed  of  you,  and  am  going  into  the 
house.  So  be  a  good  boy,  and  don't  get  into  difficulty 
with  any  of  the  animals  belonging  to  the  farm." 

The  Bo'son  put  on  his  hat,  which  he  had  held  in  his 
hand  while  talking  to  Susie,  as  was  his  custom  when  talk 
ing  or  listening  to  ladies,  made  a  funny  face,  and  had  a 
good  laugh. 

While  Susie  and  the  Bo'son  were  conversing  outside, 
the  Captain  and  Mr.  Morton  were  talking  in  the  house. 

"  I  don't  like  the  look  of  things,  William,"  said  the 
Captain.  "  There  is  something  in  the  wind,  and  that  let 
ter  means  either  mischief  or  marriage  ;  and  Susie  may  be 
right  in  her  suspicions  about  Frank  and  Julia  ;  and  as 
you  leave  here  the  day  after  to-morrow,  on  your  arrival  in 
the  city,  I  would  recommend  that  you  at  once  see  your 
sister  and  brother-in-law,  and  tell  them  what  you  know  of 
Livingston." 

"  I  shall  not  fail  in  doing  so,  and  if  any  offer  of  mar 
riage  is  then  made,  I  will  prevent  its  being  accepted." 

"It  may  not  be  such  an  easy  matter  as  you  imagine." 

"I  think,  father,  that  I  can  manage  it,  as  my  sister  will 
listen  to  me  ;  so  we  will  dismiss  the  subject,  without  at 
present  giving  ourselves  any  further  trouble.  Now,  let 
me  ask  if  the  Bo'son  has  encountered  any  new  difficulties, 
or  been  engaged  in  any  new  adventures  ? " 

"  Nothing,"  said  the  Captain,  "  worthy  of  notice,  since 
he  and  the  dog  worked  the  steer  out  of  the  meadow.  He 
has  become  very  fond  of  driving  the  oxen,  and  believes 
he  is  an  excellent  yeoman.  He  is  now  plowing  for  a  win 
ter  crop,  and  manages  the  plow  better  than  he  does  the 
oxen.  I  can't  see  how  he  will  get  into  any  difficulty  to 
day,  though  he  may  ;  and  if  he  does,  we  shall  hear  from 
him." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON 


191 


The  Bo'son  had  yoked  up  the  oxen,  and  was,  as  stated 
by  the  Captain,  plowing  one  of  the  fields.  He  appeared 
very  happy ;  singing,  whistling,  and  urging  his  team,  by 
singing  out  "haw,  shee,  step  along,  stiff-legs,"  and  some 
times  using  nautical  language  to  them, — such  as  "  port, 
starboard,  gather  ahead,  boys."  The  Bo'son  made  "bout 
after  bout  "  with  the  oxen  and  plow,  watching  the  furrow 
as  it  constantly  turned,  when,  to  his  surprise,  the  oxen 
stopped.  Bill  shouted*  and  helped  them  with  his  gad, 
and  there  was  a  manoeuvre  that  the  Bo'son  couldn't  under 
stand.  The  oxen  had  changed  places;  the  off  ox  was  on 
the  near  side,  and  the  yoke  was  under  instead  of  over  their 
necks.  If  a  ship  had  been  taken  aback  in  a  squall,  the 
Bo'son  would  have  known  exactly  what  to  do,  but  in 
having  the  oxen  in  such  a  fix,  he  thought  it  best  to  call 
the  Captain. 

While  the  Captain  and  Mr.  Morton  were  conversing, 
and  very  soon  after  Mr.  Morton  had  made  enquiry  about 
Bill,  the  Captain  saw  his  Bo'son  coming,  and  said  : 

"  Here  comes  the  Bo'son,  and  I  know  by  his  manner 
that  there  is  something  amiss.  How  now,  Bill ;  what  has 
been  carried  away  ? " 

Touching  his  hat,  Bill  said  :  "  Struck  with  a  squall,  sir, 
and  knocked  on  her  beam-ends." 

"  What  is  on  her  beam-ends,  Bo'son ;  let  me  know 
what  the  trouble  is." 

"  I  was  plowing  along,  under  easy  sail,  when  she 
brought  up  all  standing.  I  sung  out  'haw,  shee,  get 
along,  you  stiff-legged  lubbers,'  and  I  stirred  them  up 
with  my  flag-staff.  I  can't  say  they  didn't  obey  orders, 
for  one  hawed,  and  at  the  same  time  the  other  sheed, 
and  burst  the  scuttle-butt,  sir.  Quicker  than  you  ever 
saw  a  close-reefed  top-sail  blown  out  of  the  bolt-rope, 
in  a  hurricane,  the  starboard  ox  was  on  the  port  side, 
and  the  port  ox  on  the  starboard  side  ;  and  the  fife-rail 
that  belongs  athawt  their  necks,  was  under  their  wind 
pipes.  I  want  you  to  come  alongside,  sir,  and  help  me 
clear  the  wreck." 

"  I'll  be  there  directly,"  said  the  captain. 

The   Bo'son  started  back   on  the   run.  and  when   he 


I92  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

reached  the  place  again,  saw  Friend  Goodwin  at  a  short 
distance.  Bill  tied  his  handkerchief  on  the  gad,  a  third 
of  the  distance  from  one  end,  placed  his  hat  on  the  end 
of  the  gad,  then  raised  it  high  above  his  head,  shouting 
at  the  same  time  : 

"  A  ship  in  distress  !  " 

Mr.  Goodwin  saw  the  signal,  and  was  soon  at  Bill's 
side. 

"  Did  you  ever  see  such  a  wreck  as  this,  Mr.  Good 
win  ? " 

"  This  is  nothing,  Bo'son,  they  have  only  turned  their 
yoke, — not  an  uncommon  thing  with  oxen,  when  they  are 
unable  to  draw  what  they  are  hitched  to,"  was  Mr.  Good 
win's  answer. 

"One  more  such  a  turn,"  said  the  Bo'son,  "and  I 
should  expect  to  see  Davy  Jones'  locker  inside  out,  and  up 
side  down." 

"  I  know  not  what  thou  meanest,  Bo'son,  by  Davy 
Jones'  locker,  but  this  yoke  turning  I  understand  full  well, 
and  can  show  thee  how  to  turn  it  back." 

"  I  mean,  sir,  that  place  where  ice  is  in  great  demand, 
with  no  supply." 

"  I  think  I  now  understand  thee;  thou  speakest  of  the 
abode  of  darkness  and  despair,  where  the  wicked  are  sup 
posed  to  dwell  when  beyond  the  grave.  I  fain  wouldn't 
have  that  place  turned  inside  out,  fearing  some  might  re 
turn  again  to  earth  to  trouble  us." 

Mr.  Goodwin  then  placed  a  thumb  and  finger  in  the 
nostrils  of  each  ox,  and  twisted  them  back  to  their  places; 
an  operation  well  understood  by  regular  teamsters,  but  a 
perfect  marvel  to  the  Bo'son. 

"  Mr.  Goodwin,  if  you  had  turned  both  of  them  oxen 
inside  out,  I  shouldn't  have  been  more  astonished, — but 
you  understand  it  and  the  Bo'son  don't." 

"  Thou  wilt  learn  after  a  while,  Bo'son,  only  have  pa 
tience  and  perseverance.  Never  abuse  cattle,  nor  expect 
them  to  plow  rocks.  The  plow  has  struck  a  rock,  and  the 
oxen  couldn't  draw  it  through,  and  so  turned  the  yoke." 

Friend  Goodwin  backed  the  oxen,  drew  back  the  plow, 
raised  the  point  above  the  rock  and  started  the  cattle. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON. 


193 


Bill  thanked  him  for  his  kindness,  and  so  did  Captain 
Waters,  who  reached  the  field  just  as  the  oxen,  plow  and 
Bo'son  again  moved  on. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

FRANK  LIVINGSTON  AND  JULIA  COMPLETE  THEIR  ENGAGE 
MENT. 

BEFORE  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  left  the  country,  it  was 
arranged  that  Susie  should  remain  at  the  farm,  and 
learn  from  Mrs.  Waters,  Lizzie  and  the  old  steward,  what 
ever  could  be  learned  about  cooking  and  housekeeping. 

Susie  made  one  more  desperate  effort  to  prevent  Julia 
from  being  the  wife  of  Frank  Livingston.  Susie  asked  her 
cousin : 

"  Can  you  love  such  a  man  ?  Can  you  ever  respect  a 
man  of  such  habits  ?  Can  you  marry  one  whom  I  have  re 
fused  for  such  causes  ?  Have  you  no  respect  for  yourself, 
no  regard  for  the  opinion  of  the  world,  no  wish  to  be  hap 
py  here  on  earth,  and  respected  in  the  community  where 
you  live  ?  O  !  give  it  up,  Julia,  and  seek  happiness  in  the 
companionship  of  one  that  you  can  love." 

Julia  answered  : 

"  If  I  cannot  love  such  a  man,  I  can  love  his  money ; 
if  I  cannot  respect  a  man  of  such  habits,  I  can  respect 
the  position  he  holds  in  fashionable  society ;  I  can  and 
will  marry  a  man  that  your  folly  refused,  and  have  so 
much  respect  for  my  own  wishes,  that  I  am  regardless  of 
the  opinion  of  the  world;  and  mean  to  be  happy  amid  the 
gayeties  of  high  and  fashionable  life,  and  compel  others 
to  respect  me  for  my  position  in  the  world.  What  is  the 
love  you  talk  about  compared  to  the  love  of  admiration 
and  love  of  ease  ?  I  believe  in  the  last,  but  not  in  the  first." 

"  Poor  Julia,  time  will  answer  your  question  to  me, 
about  such  love  as  I  talk  of,  and  the  time  may  come  when 
you  will  understand  and  wish  for  it.  Do  you  pretend  to 
Mr.  Livingston  that  you  love  him  ?  " 

9 


I94  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  Certainly  I  do  ;  or  how  could  I  expect  him  to  marry 
me.  I  will  make  him  believe  that  he  is  the  dearest 
creature  in  the  world,  though  I  care  nothing  about  him, 
or  whether  he  loves  me  or  not,  if  he  will  only  marry  me, 
and  then  give  me  plenty  of  money  to  spend, — and  you  may 
be  sure  that  I  will  spend  it." 

"  What  will  you  do  if  he  has  no  money  to  give  ?  and 
that  time  will  come." 

"  I  don't  believe  that  time  will  ever  come;  he  is  too  rich 
for  that,  and  should  it  come,  it  will  be  after  I  have  had  a 
glorious  good  time  in  the  fashionable  world,  and  then  I 
will  do  the  next  best.  To-morrow  evening  I  shall  see 
Frank,  and  all  will  be  arranged." 

"Julia,  I  can  urge  no  more;  you  will  follow  your  own 
wishes,  and  must  suffer  all  the  consequences.  In  the 
future  there  is  hid  and  waitingVor  you  sorrows  wnich  will 
break  your  heart;  and  now,  I  will  say  good  night,  and 
before  I  sleep,  pray  my  Heavenly  Father  to  spare  and 
shield  you ! " 

The  next  morning  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  left  the  farm 
for  New  York,  and  Julia  went  with  them.  They  reached 
the  city  that  evening,  and  Mr.  Morton  drove  to  the  house 
of  Julia's  father  before  going  to  his  own.  He  met  his 
sister  at  the  door,  as  he  handed  Julia  from  the  carriage, 
and  said  to  her  that  he  would  call  and  see  her  the  next 
day. 

That  evening,  as  Julia  expected,  Frank  Livingston 
called,  and  the  two  spent  some  hours  together.  They 
engaged  themselves,  and  fixed  the  day  for  their  marriage, 
and  then  called  in  the  father  and  mother,  as  a  matter  of 
form,  to  ask  their  consent. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fizzlebaugh  were  really  taken  by  sur 
prise,  though  very  much  gratified.  The  parents  were  as 
much  embarrassed  in  this  case,  as  children  generally  are 
in  such  cases,  but  managed  in  some  way  to  give  their 
consent,  after  stating  how  very  much  they  should  miss 
their  only  daughter,  and  how  very  lonely  they  should  feel 
without  her. 

_  After  Frank  had  left,  Julia  was  nearly  wild  with  de 
light  at  the  prospect  of  being  married  in  three  weeks, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  I9S 

to  just  such  a  man  as  she  had  long  been  hoping  to  find. 
The  father  and  mother  were  as  delighted  as  the  daugh 
ter,  but  exercised  greater  control  over  their  feelings  and 
actions.  With  them  there  was  one  subject  that  weighed 
heavily  on  their  minds,  and  that  was  the  ways  and 
means  of  meeting  the  extra  expenses  of  such  a  wedding 
as  they  wished  to  give  their  daughter.  The  father  said 
to  his  wife,  that  in  some  way,  he  would  provide  the  means 
to  meet  such  an  occasion. 

Neither  Julia's  father  nor  her  mother  knew  that  Mr. 
Livingston  had  offered  himself  to  Susie  Morton,  and  been 
refused,  but  had  they  known  it,  that  would  have  made  no 
more  difference  with  them  than  it  did  with  Julia. 

The  next  day  Mr.  Morton  called  on  his  sister,  and 
was  spared  from  having  to  speak  first  on  what  was  to  him 
an  unpleasant  business.  He  had  been  but  a  few  minutes 
in  the  house  when  his  sister  said: 

"Oh,  William!  I  have  such  good  news  to  tell  you!  our 
Julia  is  to  be  married  in  three  weeks  to  Mr.  Livingston! 
Isn't  that  good  news,  brother?" 

"  No,  sister,  it  isn't  good  news;  it  is  the  worst  that  I  have 
heard  in  a  long  time.  It  is  only  a  few  days  since  I  wrote 
him  a  letter,  conveying  to  him  Susie's  positive  refusal  of 
his  offer  to  marry  her,  and  my  approval  of  her  answer." 

"  You  surprise  me,  William ;  what  objection  could  you 
have  to  Mr.  Livingston  as  a  son-in-law  ? " 

"  His  habits,  principles  and  general  character,"  said 
Mr.  Morton;  and  then  told  his  sister  all  that  he  knew  of 
Frank  Livingston,  which  at  first  appeared  to  make  some 
little  impression  on  the  mind  of  his  sister,  but  she  soon 
rallied,  and  said: 

"  William,  I  believe  you  are  greatly  mistaken,  or  else 
for  some  cause  are  endeavoring  to  deceive  me.  Frank  is 
not  the  fallen  man  you  represent  him,  that  is  certain." 

"  Sister,  I  am  not  mistaken,  and  have  no  wish  to  de 
ceive  you." 

"  Why  then  are  you  so  earnest  to  prevent  Julia  from 
becoming  the  wife  of  Mr.  Livingston?" 

"  Because  I  know  that  if  she  does,  her  future  will  be 
miserable. ' 


196 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


"  You  don't  know  any  such  thing,  brother,  but  you  do 
know  that  all  your  life  you  have  talked  to  my  husband 
and  myself  about  your  own  children  and  our  Julia  mar 
rying  into  the  highest  circles,  and  it  became  a  passion 
with  us,  as  it  was  with  you;  and  now,  when  there  is  a  cer 
tainty  that  Julia  is  about  to  do  so,  you  come  here  to 
discourage  it." 

"  I  have  changed  my  views  and  opinions  on  that  sub 
ject,  and  believe  that  worth,  character  and  manhood 
should  be  sought  in  a  husband,  in  preference  to  wealth 
and  position  in  fashionable  society;  and  that  with  worth, 
character,  and  true  manhood  only,  can  happiness  in  mar 
ried  life  be  found." 

"  You  talk  very  differently  now,  my  brother,  than  you 
formerly  did." 

"  Yes,  sister,  and  it  is  because  I  believe  and  feel  dif 
ferently." 

"  Brother,  you  know  that  we  have  brought  Julia  up  as 
a  lady ;  never  allowed  her  to  do  anything,  not  even  to 
wash  out  a  pocket  handkerchief;  but  you  know  not  how 
hard  we  have  struggled  to  do  it.  You  know  not  how  hard 
I  have  worked,  and  often  when  I  was  not  able  ;  many 
days  and  weeks,  when  I  should  have  been  in  bed,  I  have 
been  in  the  kitchen,  cooking  and  washing,  because  we 
couldn't  hire  help,  and  have  the  means  to  clothe  and  edu 
cate  Julia.  It  has  cost  over  two  thousand  dollars  for  her 
music  lessons,  and  since  she  has  been  grown  and  in  com 
pany,  her  ball  and  party  dresses  have  been  very  expensive. 
It  has  taken  all,  and  more  than  all,  that  Thomas  has 
earned  to  educate,  dress,  and  prepare  Julia  for  the  place 
she  is  now  to  fill,  but  we  shall  be  more  than  repaid  when 
she  is  really  there." 

"  Have  you  calculated  her  chances  of  happiness  after 
marriage  ? " 

"  Yes — no;  I  can  hardly  tell  if  we  have  considered  or 
calculated  anything  about  it,  for  the  offer  was  so  unex 
pected  to  us,  and  so  very  acceptable,  that  we  gave  our 
immediate  consent,  and  shall  have  but  little  time  to  pre 
pare  for  so  great  an  occasion." 

At  this  stage  of  the  conversation  Thomas  Fizzlebaugh 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  Ip7 

came  in,  and  after  giving  Mr.  Morton  a  very  cordial  wel 
come  home  from  the  country  and  to  his  house,  asked  what 
he  thought  of  Julia's  expected  marriage. 

Mr.  Morton  again  related  all  that  had  taken  place  in 
regard  to  Mr.  Livingston's  offer  to  Susie,  and  what  he 
knew  of  the  habits  and  character  of  Frank. 

"  Mr.  Fizzlebaugh  was  at  first  staggered  with  the  in 
formation,  but,  after  a  little  reflection,  said  : 

"  These  wild  young  men  often  change  after  marriage, 
and  make  the  very  best  of  husbands,  and  girls  must  take 
some  ventures  to  win  a  rich  prize." 

"  Do  you  know,  Thomas,  of  any  individual  cases  of 
such  reformation,  among  your  personal  acquaintance  ? 
Do  you  think  it  safe  to  trust  an  only  daughter  to  such  a 
chance  ?  " 

"I  have  read  of  such  cases,  and  it  is  an  old  saying; 
but  I  don't  know  of  any  individual  cases,"  was  the  answer 
of  Mr.  Fizzlebaugh. 

"  Yes,  Thomas,  you  have  read  them  in  novels,  but  they 
don't  often  take  place ;  and  you  mustn't  depend  on  old 
sayings  for  the  happiness  of  your  daughter." 

"  It  is  too  late  to  change,  as  all  is  now  arranged,  and 
Julia  will  soon  be  Mrs.  Livingston." 

"And  Julia  will  soon  be  miserable,"  was  her  uncle's 
reply,  as  he  was  about  to  leave. 

The  evening  that  Mr.  Livingston  engaged  himself  to 
Julia,  after  leaving  the  house  of  Mr.  Fizzlebaugh,  Frank 
went  to  one  of  the  fashionable  gambling  houses,  where 
he  had  an  unusual  run  of  good  luck,  winning  a  very 
large  sum  of  money,  and  going  home  at  daylight  less  un 
der  the  influence  of  stimulants  than  usual.  He  slept 
until  after  mid-day,  and  when  he  awoke  was  more  the 
Frank  Livingston  of  earlier  days  than  he  had  been  for  a 
long  time.  He  dressed  himself  with  great  care,  partook 
of  a  hearty  breakfast,  and  at  two  o'clock,  in  accordance 
with  a  previous  arrangement,  was  driven  to  the  house  of 
Julia's  father.  He  had  a  long  talk  with  Julia,  arranging 
their  plans  for  the  future,  and  then  he  was  driven  to  the 
place  of  Mr.  Fizzlebaugh's  occupation,  he  being  secretary 
of  an  insurance  company. 


198 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


They  had  along  consultation  in  a  private  office,  in  which 
Frank  informed  his  future  father-in-law  that  Julia  and 
himself  had  arranged  to  be  married  in  church,  and  have 
their  reception  at  a  house  he  would  have  furnished,  and 
where  they  would  reside  after  their  marriage  tour. 
Frank  stated  that  the  house  was  large,  and  would  much 
better  accommodate  their  mutual  friends  than  the  one 
occupied  by  Mr.  Fizzlebaugh. 

Such  an  arrangement  was  very  satisfactory,  as  it  re 
lieved  the  father  of  Julia  from  an  expense  he  was  not 
.well  prepared  to  meet,  and  he  fully  united  with  it. 

When  Frank  was  about  to  leave  the  office,  he  handed  Mr. 
Fizzlebaugh  a  package,  with  a  request  that  it  should  not 
be  opened  while  he  was  present. 

Immediately  after  Frank  left,  Julia's  father  opened  the 
package,  and  found  that  it  contained  two  thousand  dol 
lars,  and  a  very  kind  note,  asking  him  to  accept  it  as  a 
token  of  friendship,  and  tell  no  one  of  it.  It  was  a  small 
part  of  Mr.  Livingston's  previous  night's  winnings,  and 
being  perfectly  himself,  he  made  a  good  use  of  it. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

FRANK  AND  JULIA  ARE  MARRIED. 

PREPARATIONS  for  the  marriage  of  Frank  Livings- 
1  ton  and  Julia  Fizzlebaugh  were  made  on  a  magnifi 
cent  scale.  Mr.  Livingston  had  his  house  furnished  in 
the  richest  and  most  tasteful  style.  Nothing  that  conve 
nience  and  fancy  could  suggest,  or  money  purchase,  was 
wanting. 

Julia's  father,  being  unexpectedly  supplied  with  what 
appeared  to  him  a  large  sum  of  money,  determined  that 
the  whole  amount  should  be  expended  in  preparing  his 
daughter  to  dignify  and  adorn  an  exalted  position  in  the 
fashionable  world.  An  accomplished  waiting-maid  was 
engaged  to  fill  the  place  of  first  maid  of  honor,  and 
another  to  act  as  her  assistant ;  a  cook  and  chambermaid 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  I99 

engaged  for  his  own  family,  that  his  house  might  have  the 
appearance  of  one  occupied  by  a  man  of  distinction. 
Dressmakers  were  employed  to  prepare  Julia's  wardrobe, 
and  such  a  general  stir,  excitement  and  talking  about  a 
wedding  could  not  be  remembered  by  the  oldest  single 
sister  in  New  York's  fashionable  society. 

Mr.  Livingston,  from  some  cause  unknown  to  his  best 
friends,  had  ceased  drinking  wine,  and  apparently  become 
a  changed  man.  His  best  friends  believed  the  change 
had  been  produced  by  his  contemplated  marriage;  and  the 
influence  over  him  of  that  angel-like  being  so  soon  to  be 
come  his  wife.  They  were  both  often  congratulated  on 
their  approaching  union,  and  prospect  of  long  continued 
happiness.  Julia's  father  and  mother  were  particularly 
pleased,  and  in  talking  the  subject  over  between  them 
selves,  concluded  that  Mr.  Morton  had  been  deceived,  or 
for  some  unexplained  cause  wished  to  deceive  them.  Julia 
would  also  have  been  pleased  if  she  could  have  found  time 
to  think  of  such  trifles,  when  she  was  preparing  for  her 
own  wedding,  but  what  to  her  was  the  condition  of  Frank? 
Drunk  or  sober,  he  was  rich,  and  she  was  to  be  his  wife. 

The  real  cause  of  Frank  Livingston's  being  sober,  was 
to  win  back  the  money  lost  by  not  succeeding  in  obtain 
ing  Susie  Morton  for  a  wife.  When  paying  off  those  bets, 
he  feigned  to  be  much  under  the  influence  of  stimulants, 
though  perfectly  sober,  and  succeeded  in  making  bets  that 
he  would  not  drink,  nor  again  be  drunk,  until  after  he  was 
a  married  man. 

Professed  gamblers  will  bet  aAy  reasonable  amount  on 
an  even  chance.  That  class  of  men  with  whom  Frank  had 
long  associated,  believed  that  they  knew  him  too  well,  not 
to  understand  the  chances  in  their  favor.  Mr.  Livings 
ton  obtained  odds  in  every  bet,  and  staked  large  sums  on 
the  result.  His  resolution  was  equal  to  the  occasion, 
showing  that,  had  he  profited  by  it  at  all  times,  he  might 
have  been  a  better  man. 

The  subject  of  sending  cards  to  the  Waters  and  Mor 
ton  families  was  freely  discussed  by  Frank  and  Julia. 
Julia  was  very  anxious  that  her  uncle,  aunt  and  cousin, 
should  receive  cards,  and  not  sending  them,  would  cause 


200  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

a  breach  in  the  family  which  could  never  be  closed  up. 
Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  were  not  related  to  Julia,  but 
she  had  been  so  much  in  the  family,  with  Susie,  that  she 
had  become  accustomed  to  regard  them  as  such.  Julia 
was  anxious  to  have  them  all  see  her  new  house,  and  the 
display  of  wealth  and  fashion,  that  would  assemble  at 
their  reception.  Frank  also  wished  Susie's  family  and 
friends  to  be  convinced  of  what  they  had  lost,  in  not  ad 
mitting  him  into  the  family.  Cards  were  sent  to  them  all. 
When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  received  their  cards,  and 
were  informed  that  cards  had  been  sent  to  Susie,  also  to 
Captain  Waters  and  wife,  they  decided  to  accept,  and  wrote 
to  the  farm,  expressing  a  hope  that  those  there  receiving 
cards  would  accept,  and  be  present  at  the  marriage 
and  reception.  Mr.  Morton  thought  it  would  be  the 
easiest  way  of  showing  that  there  was  nothing  but  kindly 
feelings  existing  in  the  family,  towards  Mr.  Livingston, 
and  that  his  offering  himself  to  Susie  did  not  destroy 
those  feelings.  None  of  them  wished  him  otherwise  than 
well  and  happy,  and  they  desired  to  show  it. 

When  Captain  Waters  received  the  cards  by  letter,  he 
called  Mrs.  Waters  and  Susie  into  the  sitting-room,  and 
said  : 

"  Frank  and  Julia  are  to  be  '  spliced  '  in  ten  days,  and 
we  are  all  invited  to  go  on  board  and  see  it  done.  Here, 
Sue,  here  is  your  ticket,  tied  up  with  ribbons  ;  and  here 
are  ours,  Nancy.  Now,  what  have  you  all  to  say 
about  it  ? " 

"  I  am  sorry,"  said  Mrs.  Waters  ;  "  but  there  is  no  help 
for  it.  I  fear  that  Julia  will  see  her  mistake  when  too 
late  to  profit  by  it." 

"  Grandma,  Julia  knows  all,  and  did  before  she  left 
here;  I  kept  nothing  from  her;  I  was  very  free  in  telling 
all,  and  earnest  in  my  entreaty  that,  under  no  circum 
stances,  she  would  consent  to  marry  him.  Julia  was  can* 
did,  and  informed  me  that  she  should  marry  him.  The 
letter  Julia  received  here,  though  not  a  direct  offer, 
amounted  to  that." 

"  Susie,"  said  the  Captain,  did  you  tell  her  that  you  had 
refused  him  ? " 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  *  SON.  201 

"Yes,  grandpa." 

"Well,  then,  let  her  have  him,  and  learn  her  fate  as  she 
sails  along.  Julia  has  been  educated  for  just  such  a  voy 
age,  and  is  fit  for  no  other.  If  she  can  lie  in  bed  half  of 
the  day,  do  nothing  the  other  half,  and  be  at  a  ball  or 
party  all  night,  she  will  be  satisfied.  She  will  find  some 
head  winds  and  head  currents  before  the  end  of  the  voy 
age,  or  Joe  Waters  is  no  sailor." 

"  Shall  we  attend  the  wedding  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Waters. 

"Yes;  it  is  best,  and  I  can  see  no  objection,"  answered 
Susie. 

"  I  also  think  it  best ;  but  who  would  have  believed 
that  Frank  would  have  been  mad  enough,  or  drunk 
enough,  to  have  offered  himself  so  soon  to  Julia,  after 
Susie  refused  him  ?  Men  are  greater  fools  than  women, 
on  such  occasions,"  said  the  Captain. 

It  being  generally  agreed,  at  the  farm,  that  all  invited 
should  attend,  Captain  Waters  concluded  to  go  in  great 
style,  and  have  the  Bo'son  for  a  body-guard  ;  and  Mrs. 
Waters  decided  to  have  Lizzie  as  lady's-maid.  The 
Captain  would  have  taken  the  steward  also,  but  some  of 
the  family  must  remain  at  the  farm  and  look  after  things. 

The  great  day  came,  and  all  were  glad  to  see  it.  The 
servants  of  Mr.  Livingston  all  had  a  new  suit  of  livery, 
and  appeared  to  the  best  advantage.  The  housekeeper 
had  superintended  everything,  and  everything  about  the 
house  was  in  perfect  order. 

A  large  number  of  cards  had  been  sent  out,  both  for 
the  church  and  the  reception.  The  daily  papers  had  an 
nounced  the  time  and  church  where  the  marriage  was  to 
be,  and  commented  freely  on  the  great  wedding  about  to 
take  place.  Julia  Fizzlebaugh  had  all  the  notoriety  her 
heart  could  desire,  and  her  parents  were  as  elated  and 
gratified  as  was  their  daughter. 

The  arrangements  were  that  the  marriage  should  take 
place  at  Trinity  Church,  at  seven  in  the  evening ;  recep 
tion  at  the  house,  from  eight  to  ten  o'clock,  and  at  mid 
night  the  married  couple  should  leave  by  railroad  for 
Washington  and  a  bridal  tour. 

The  church  was  filled,  and  all  went  well  there.     The 


,02  c-APTAIN  WATERS 

reception  was  satisfactory,  as  all  appeared  to  pass  off 
smoothly,  each  congratulating  the  new  made  pair,  and 
receiving  their  thanks,  and  the  favored  ones  a  kiss  from 
the  bride.  At  ten  o'clock  all  were  invited  to  the  dining- 
room  for  refreshments,  of  which  all  partook  freely.  When 
all  were  satisfied  with  the  good  things  from  the  table, 
Frank  waited  on  Julia  to  her  room,  that  she  might  change 
her  wedding,  for  a  traveling  dress,  saying,  as  he  left  her 
at  the  door  of  the  room,  that  he  would  call  for  her  in 
time  to  meet  the  midnight  train. 

Frank  had  kept  his  pledge  of  total  abstinence  for  three 
weeks,  and  won  all  his  wagers,  amounting  to  more  than  he 
lost  when  he  failed  to  secure  Susie  for  a  wife.  He  was 
gratified  at  his  success,  and  on  the  occasion  of  his  mar 
riage,  felt  that  he  could  indulge  again,  and  drink  to  his 
own  happiness  and  that  of  his  bride.  Those  who  had 
lost  money,  but  styled  themselves  his  friends,  determined 
to  see  him  drunk,  on  an  occasion  when,  if  ever,  he  should 
have  been  sober.  They  succeeded  in  inducing  him  to 
drink  freely,  and  long  before  the  time  when  Frank  should 
have  called  for  his  wife,  he  showed  signs  of  becoming  in 
toxicated.  Each  of  the  pretended  friends  urged  him  on, 
when  he  needed  urging,  until  he  was  mad,  crazy,  drunk. 
It  took  a  number  of  persons  to  hold  him,  and  soon  they 
became  alarmed,  when  fortunately  Captain  Waters  en 
tered  the  room,  with  Mrs.  Waters  and  Susie.  The  Cap 
tain  at  once  comprehended  the  situation,  and  told  Susie 
to  go  to  the  kitchen  and  call  the  Bo'son.  The  Bo'son 
was  soon  with  his  captain, — and  both  of  them  had  been 
accustomed  to  handle  drunken  sailors,  and  knew  how  to 
take  hold  of  them.  Bill  Thomas  took  Mr.  Livingston  in 
his  arms,  and  sitting  on  a  chair,  held  him  so  firmly  that 
he  could  injure  no  one.  Frank  had  drank  so  much,  that 
when  held  perfectly  quiet,  he  soon  went  to  sleep.  When 
the  Bo'son  discovered  that  he  was  sleeping,  he  said : 

"  Show  me  his  state-room,  and  I  will  put  him  where 
he'll  not  move  till  eight  bells  in  the  morning  watch." 

The  Bo'son  carried  him  up  stairs  as  easily  as  though 
he  had  been  a  child,  took  off  his  coat,  vest,  cravat  and 
boots,  and  laid  him  on  a  bed,  saying  as  he  did  so: 


AND  BILL,  HIS  £0'SOJV.  203 

"  He  isn't  the  first  lubber  I  have  bunked  that  couldn't 
bunk  himself.  Black-eyed  Susan  didn't  sign  the  article 
for  this  voyage;  all  right;  set  the  flying-sky-sail." 

What  the  Bo'son  said  was  understood  only  by  the  Cap 
tain,  who  had  followed  him  up  stairs. 

What  had  taken  place  was  known  to  all  but  Julia  and 
the  bridesmaids,  who  were  with  her  in  the  room.  Julia 
thought  that  Frank  was  long  in  coming  for  her,  and  when, 
her  mother  with  Susie  rapped  at  the  door,  she  supposed 
it  was  he.  Julia's  mother  told  her  all,  and  saw  the 
daughter  fall  from  her  giddy  height  into  a  deep  abyss  of 
woe.  All  night  long  Susie  staid  with  her  cousin,  soothed 
her  sorrow,  held  her  hands,  bathed  her  temples,  and 
mingled  her  own  tears  with  those  of  Mrs.  Livingston. 
Julia  had  in  her  own  heart  triumphed  over  others,  be 
lieving  that  Susie  must  regret  her  refusal  after  seeing  so 
much  splendor,  and  while  glorying  in  her  victory,  was 
herself  subdued.  Julia  saw  not  her  husband  again  until 
noon  the  next  day,  and  then  he  was  unfit  to  travel. 
"  The  evening  and  the  morning  were  the  first  day "  of 
Julia  Fizzlebaugh's  glory  and  despair. 


CHAPTER  XLIL 

THE    BO'SON'S   OPINION    OF    DUTIES. 

THE  evening  after  Julia's  marriage,  Captain  and  Mrs. 
Waters,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  and  Susie  were  to 
gether,  and  the  wedding  of  Frank  and  Julia  was  the  most 
natural  subject  to  converse  about.  Had  it  ended  without 
an  exhibition  of  Frank  Livingston's  weakness,  it  would 
have  furnished  a  theme  for  the  fashionables  of  New 
York  to  talk  about  for  at  least  a  month,  or  until  another 
great  display  had  taken  place;  but  with  the  winding  up 
of  the  marriage  feast,  added  to  the  other  novelties,  it  was 
expected  that  the  sensation  would  outlive  all  its  kindred. 
In  referring  to  the  condition  of  Mr.  Livingston,  before 
the  guests  left  the  house,  and  the  disappointment  of  Julia 


204  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

in  being  prevented  from  leaving  the  city  on  her  bridal  t,  ,tir, 
and  her  subsequent  sufferings  through  the  night  and  early 
part  of  the  next  day,  Captain  Waters  asked  Mr.  Morton: 

"  What  do  you  think  now,  William,  of  Livingston,  as  a 
suitable  husband  for  your  daughter?," 

"  When  I  so  wished,  I  did  not  know  him.  I  thank  God, 
you  and  Susie,  that  he  is  not  a  member  of  our  family. 
You  will  remember  that  I  did  not  urge,  or  wish  it,  after  I 
was  acquainted  with  his  character  and  habits." 

"  That  is  true,"  replied  the  Captain,  "  nor  did  I  expect 
that  you  would.  I  knew  that  you  loved  Susie  too  well  to 
hazard  her  happiness  on  a  doubtful  chance,  and  that  it 
was  only  necessary  to  convince  you  of  the  truth,  and 
Susie  would  be  the  last  earthly  treasure  offered  by  you 
as  a  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  ambition." 

"  You  judged  me  rightly,  father;  that  I  was  greatly 
mistaken  in  my  general  views,  I  am  very  free  to  admit; 
but  I  had  only  looked  at  the  surface  of  things,  without 
taking  thought,  or  time,  to  fathom  their  depths,  and  in  that 
matter  allowed  myself  to  reach  a  conclusion,  because  it 
corresponded  with  my  wishes.  I  was  ignorant  enough  to 
believe  a  rich  husband  was  a  very  desirable  article." 

"I  am  glad,  William,"  said  Mrs.  Waters,  "that  we  were 
all  united  in  our  opinion,  after  we  had  all  properly  con 
sidered  the  subject  of  Susie's  marriage  with  Mr.  Living 
ston.  It  is  always  the  best  way  in  family  matters  of  im 
portance  to  just  talk  them  over  freely,  having  the  opinion 
and  judgment  of  all  interested  in  the  matter,  and  then 
determine  what  is  best.  Much  misery,  and  many  un 
pleasant  feelings,  would  be  saved  by  such  a  course.  Now 
that  Julia  has  a  husband,  do  you  think  she  is  happy  ?  " 

"  Let  me  answer  that  question,"  said  the  Captain,  "  and 
I'll  say  that,  in  my  opinion,  Julia  is  just  about  as  happy 
as  she  would  be  if  very  sea-sick,  on  board  of  a  ship,  in  a 
heavy  gale  of  wind,  and  not  half  the  chance  of  ever 
getting  over  it." 

"  Joseph  Waters,  what  makes  you  put  your  oar  in  when 
I  asked  William  a  question  ?  " 

"  You  know,  Nancy,  that  I  like  to  take  a  pull  once  in 
a  while,  and  speak  my  mind  on  great  occasions ;  but  if 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SOAr.  2oe 

you  will  excuse  me  this  time,  I  will  try  and  not  do  so 
again." 

"  Yes,  yes,  Joseph ;  I  know  a  considerable  about  your 
disposition  to  speak  your  mind,  and  when  you  think  things 
are  going  wrong,  you  are  apt  to  be  very  decided  in  your 
expressions  ;  but  I  am  still  waiting  for  William's  answer." 

"  No,  mother,  that  can't  possibly  be,  nor  can  she  see 
the  least  glimmer  of  happiness  in  the  future." 

"  I  think,"  continued  Mrs.  Waters,  "  that  you  are  right, 
and  that  Julia's  future  will  be  dark  and  dreary.  You, 
Susie,  spent  the  night  with  her,  and  can  tell  us  how  Julia 
regards  her  present  and  future  prospects." 

"  Grandma,  there  is  nothing  but  duty,  or  necessity,  that 
could  induce  me  to  pass  through  such  suffering  of  mind, 
such  a  disappointment,  as  Julia  endured  last  night.  I 
sometimes  thought  that  she  would  lose  her  reason ;  and 
she  was  insensible  at  short  periods,  when  in  convulsions ; 
and  after  all,  it  was  not  her  love  for  Frank  ;  she  does  not 
love  him  any  more  than  I  do.  It  was  her  disappointment 
in  not  being  able  to  leave,  as  had  been  arranged,  on  the 
bridal  tour.  Julia  said  to  me  when  she  was  at  the  farm, 
and  after  I  had  informed  her  what  habits  Frank  had  con 
tracted:  '  I  had  rather  put  a  husband  to  bed  drunk  every 
night,  than  be  the  wife  of  a  poor  man.'  Poor  Julia!  how  little 
she  knew  what  she  was  talking  about,  or  what  it  was  to 
be  a  drunkard's  wife.  She  received  her  first  lesson  last 
night,  and  the  sadness  it  caused  will  long  abide  in  her 
heart." 

"  It  was  fortunate  that  I  brought  the  Bo'son  along  with 
me,  for  no  other  man  at  the  reception  could  have  handled 
Livingston  as  Bill  Thomas  did,"  remarked  the  Captain. 

"  Has  any  one  talked  with  the  Bo'son  about  it  since  ?  " 
asked  Mr.  Morton. 

"  I  think  not,"  replied  the  Captain. 

"  Then  let  us  call  him,  and  see  what  he  will  have  to  say 
about  the  wedding,  and  all  that  he  saw  and  did  last  night." 

"Wait  a  moment,  William,  and  let  some  of  us  tell  you 
what  the  Bo'son  knows  about  this  whole  matter,  and  then 
you  can  judge  better  what  the  Bo'son  means  from  what 
he  says.  Susie,  you  tell  your  father  all  about  it." 


,06  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

Susie  did  tell  her  father  that  the  Bo'son  had  not  only  a 
large,  but  a  warm  and  tender  heart,  and  that  Bill  had 
been  her  friend  and  adviser  from  the  first,  and  would 
have  stowed  her  away  in  one  of  his  private  "  lockers,"  if 
it  had  been  necessary,  to  keep  her  from  being  the  wife  of 
Frank  Livingston.  Captain  Waters  and  all  the  others 
were  amused  at  the  idea  of  putting  Susie  in  the  "  Bo'- 
son's  locker,"  to  keep  her  from  Frank.  At  the  request  of 
her  father,  Susie  went  for  the  Bo'son,  who  was  in  the 
dining-room  with  Lizzie,  and  some  acquaintances,  who  had 
called  to  see  them. 

Susie  had  spent  full  an  hour  with  the  Bo'son,  after  re 
turning  from  her  attendance  on  Julia,  and  having  a  short 
sleep,  so  the  Bo  son  knew  all  that  had  taken  place  after 
he  left  Mr.  Livingston  in  one  of  the  upper  rooms  of  the 
house  of  reception. 

After  Susie  left  the  room,  for  the  purpose  of  calling  Bill 
Thomas,  Mrs.  Waters  said  to  her  daughter : 

"  Laura,  we  have  all  been  blessed  in  saving  Susie  from 
being  the  wife  of  such  a  man, — one  who  has  been  fortune's 
favorite,  and  will  be  her  discarded  child." 

The  Bo'son  entered  the  room  with  Susie,  and  by  Mr. 
Morton  was  invited  to  a  seat.  Bill  Thomas  had  sailed  so 
long  with  Captain  Waters,  and  spent  so  many  evenings  in 
the  cabin  of  the  ship  with  the  family,  when  in  port,  that 
he  felt  perfectly  at  home  and  at  ease  when  in  the  family 
circle.  Under  the  instruction  of  the  steward,  Bill  Thomas 
had  learned  enough  to  read,  and  fully  understand  the 
English  language.  He  often  used  nautical  terms,  and  so 
will  every  sailor,  but  with  the  Bo'son  it  was  not  for  want 
of  other  words,  to  express  his  meaning.  After  the  Bo'son 
had  paid  his  compliments  to  all  present,  and  taken  a  seat, 
Mr.  Morton  addressed  him  by  saying : 

"  Well,  Bo'son,  I  believe  you  and  my  daughter  have 
liad  a  private  and  a  perfect  understanding  with  each  other 
about  some  love  affairs.  How  is  it,  Bill  ?  " 

The  Bo'son  looked  at  his  Captain,  the  speaker  and  the 
ladies,  in  doubt  how  to  answer,  which  the  Captain  under 
stood,  and  said  : 

"  Speak   freely,   Bo'son;  we   are    all   friends,  and   aU 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SON.  ±oj 

understand  each  other,  and  will  understand  you."  The 
Bo'son  so  encouraged,  answered: 

"  The  morning-glory  was  for  a  time  under  my  lee. 
Old  Bose  and  myself  kept  a  good  watch  to  prevent  her 
being  cut  out  of  the  fleet,  and  run  off  by  an  enemy." 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  fully  understand  you,  Bo'son, — 
explain  yourself." 

"  Well,  sir,  after  Mr.  Livingston  brought  the  flying-sky- 
sail  on  board  of  the  farm,  and  I  found  out  that  Mr.  Liv 
ingston  wanted  black-eyed  Susan  for  his  first  mate,  and 
that  Susan  didn't  like  the  voyage,  and  wouldn't  sign  the 
articles,  I  mistrusted  that  the  sky-sail  was  left  on  board  as 
a  spy,  and  one  of  a  press-gang  to  seize  Susan,  and  put  her 
on  board  of  Livingston's  ship.  Captain  Waters  was  ab 
sent  from  the  fleet,  and  I  had  to  act  without  orders,  with 
no  one  to  talk  to  but  old  Bose,  and  we  arranged  it  between 
us.  I  watched  in  the  day  time,  and  slept  with  my  clothes 
on  nights,  with  old  Bose  on  the  look-out,  until  you  took 
the  flying-sky-sail  away  with  you;  and  it  would  have  been 
after  a  hard  fight,  before  the  pride  of  the  fleet  could  have 
been  taken  from  under  our  guns." 

"  I  fully  understand  all  that  you  say  and  mean,  except 
ing  the  '  flying-sky-sail.'  What  is  that,  Bo'son  ?  " 

"  Miss  Julia  Fizzlebob,  sir;  Mrs.  Livingston  that  now  is." 

"  What  do  you  think,  Bo'son,  of  city  life,  and  city  wed 
dings  ?  " 

"  I  can't  say,  sir,  that  I  think  much  of  either.  I  was 
glad  that  we  had  kept  the  pride  under  our  guns,  and  that 
black-eyed  Susan  was  not  Mr.  Livingston's  mate,  for  a  long 
voyage.  Hoping  that  when  she  does  ship,  her  captain  will 
be  able  to  sail  on  the  day  appointed,  whether  on  a  voyage 
or  a  pleasure  cruise.  A  mate  has  a  double  duty  to  per 
form,  and  no  pleasure  to  enjoy,  when  the  captain  is  drunk 
in  his  berth  at  the  beginning  of  his  first  voyage  as  master. 
Miss  Fizzlebob  left  the  wharf  with  everything  set,  but  had 
to  drop  her  anchor  before  she  got  outside  of  the  Hook. 
The  captain  drunk,  the  mate  sick,  the  crew  disorderly, 
and  but  little  chance  of  getting  to  sea  for  some  time,  and 
when  they  do  sail,  they  are  sure  to  have  an  unpleasant 
voyage." 


208  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

All  fully  understood  the  Bo'son,  and  all  had  learned 
how  dear  to  him  was  Susie,  and  how  much  he  was  willing 
to  do  to  protect  her,  or  to  secure  her  happiness.  Mr. 
Morton  now  fully  appreciated  the  Bo'son's  character,  and 
understood  his  motives,  for  Mrs.  Waters  had  informed 
him  of  the  strong  attachment  and  fatherly  love  that  Bill 
Thomas  felt  for  Susie  Morton. 

Mr.  Morton  took  the  Bo'son  warmly  by  the  hand  at  the 
close  of  the  evening,  when  they  were  about  separating, 
and  said : 

"  Bill,  you  have  my  hearty  thanks  for  the  interest  you 
have  taken  in  my  daughter,  and  I  shall  feel  that  she  is 
always  safe  when  you  are  near  her." 

"  The  Bo'son  will  fire  his  last  shot,  and  the  old  dog 
make  his  last  bite,  before  any  harm  can  reach  her,"  was 
Bill's  reply. 

They  all  shook  hands  with  the  Bo'son,  and  as  Susie  did 
so,  she  gave  him  a  kiss,  and  received  one  in  return. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

RETURN  TO  THE  FARM. 

THE  Waters  family  returned  to  the  farm,  taking  Susie 
Morton  with  them.  It  was  Susie's  wish  to  go,  and 
remain  in  the  country  until  late  in  the  fall,  when  she 
would  return  to  the  city,  and  spend  a  part  of  the  winter 
with  her  parents,  who  were  now  disposed  to  let  the  daugh 
ter  be  governed  by  her  own  wishes  in  what  she  should  do, 
or  where  she  should  reside.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  felt 
that  they  could  trust  to  the  judgment  of  Susie,  in  all 
things  appertaining  to  her  present  residence  and  future 
settlement. 

Bill  Thomas,  while  in  New  York,  had  been  on  board 
of  such  ships  as  were  in  port,  and  whose  officers  he  was 
acquainted  with,  and  had  met  many  an  old  shipmate  ; 
been  at  the  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor,  on  Staten  Island,  where 
he  found  many  an  old,  worn-out  seaman,  well  cared  for, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON 

by  the  ample  provision  made  for  such  seamen  by  the  will 
of  Captain  Richard  Robert  Randall,  leaving  a  property, 
the  income  of  which  is  now  nearly  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars  annually  ;  all  of  which  is  applied  in  supporting 
disabled  and  worn-out  seamen.  A  nobler  or  more  worthy 
bequest  was  never  made,  nor  so  large  a  yearly  sum  more 
faithfully  administered. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  also  had  opportunities  of 
meeting  and  exchanging,  with  old  friends,  the  warm  greet 
ings  of  those  who  had  been  acquainted,  in  other  lands. 
All  the  family  were  ready  and  anxious  to  return  to  the 
farm,  and  attend  to  the  gathering  in  of  the  fall  crops. 

Susie  Morton,  before  leaving  the  city,  requested  her 
father  and  mother  to  write  occasionally  how  it  fared 
with  Julia,  saying : 

"  I  know  that  she  has  a  bitter  cup  to  drink,  and  is  not 
prepared  by  habit  or  education  for  such  a  draught.  She 
has  new  lessons  to  learn,  and  new  duties  to  perform,  and 
they  will  both  be  hard  to  accomplish.  In  learning  them, 
she  may  also  learn  wisdom,  and  profit  by  the  lesson." 

Captain  Waters  found  all  at  the  farm  as  it  should  be, 
and  the  whole  family  were  welcomed  back  with  such  an 
earnest  and  hearty  manner,  as  to  satisfy  them  that  their 
return  was  pleasing. 

The  Bo'son,  as  usual,  was  ready  for  duty,  and  ready  to 
do  the  first  thing  that  needed  doing,  and  he  did  many 
things  the  first  afternoon  that  he  was  again  on  the  farm. 

During  the  ten  days  that  he  had  been  absent,  many 
little  things  had  got  out  of  place  in  the  different  depart 
ments,  which  the  Bo'son  considered  under  his  special  care. 
A  hay-rake  was  broken,  a  wagon  injured,  and  a  horse 
had  cast  a  shoe  ;  but  Bill  managed  to  mend  the  rake,  re 
pair  the  wagon,  and  shoe  the  horse,  before  milking  time. 
Being  naturally  industrious,  and  handy  at  many  things, 
the  Bo'son  accomplished,  in  a  given  time,  more  than 
many  persons  would  have  supposed  was  possible.  In  the 
evening,  Bill  gave,  in  his  own  peculiar  way,  the  old  stew 
ard  a  full  account  of  the  great  wedding,  and  of  all  that 
he  had  seen  in  New  York.  The  steward  had  formed  so 
just  an  estimate  of  the  two  contracting  parties,  that  he 


2IO 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


was  not  surprised  that  the  Bo'son  had  to  look  after  the 
groom.  These  old  seafaring  men,  who  have  been  in 
every  part  of  the  world,  and  mingled  in  the  society  of 
many  nations  and  peoples,  can  judge  with  tolerable  cor 
rectness  of  the  character  of  individuals  they  meet  with. 

The  next  morning,  Susie  was  up  before  it  was  fairly 
light,  causing  her  sweet,  clear  voice  to  ring  through  the 
farm-house,  as  she  sung,  "  I  am  over  young  to  marry 
yet,"  followed  by  "  I  am  a  merry  mountain  maid  ;  "  and 
while  singing,  she  saw  the  Bo'son  coming  from  his 
house;  meeting  him  at  the  door,  and  putting  her  arms 
around  his  neck,  she  kissed  him  as  she  would  have 
done  her  father,  saying : 

"Ain't  you  glad,  Bo'son,  that  I  am  not  Mrs.  Living 
ston  ? " 

"Yes,  beauty,  lam." 

"  So  am  I ;  but  I  am  sorry  for  Julia." 

"  Never  mind  her;  it  is  just  what  she  wanted,  and  she 
got  it,  so  don't  let  us  worry  about  it,"  said  the  Bo'son. 

Susie  knew  that  her  singing  early  did  not  disturb  the. 
family,  and  Mrs.  Waters  appearing  while  she  was  talking 
with  the  Bo'son,  did  not  disturb  either  of  them. 

Bill  Thomas  found  enough  to  occupy  all  his  time,  and 
for  a  number  of  days  after  his  return  met  with  no  ad 
ventures,  as  he  was  most  of  the  time  in  one  of  the  fields 
assisting  the  farmer,  Mr.  Harrowell,  in  gathering  the 
crops. 

A  few  days  after  his  return  from  New  York,  and  while 
Captain  Waters  was  absent  from  the  farm,  Welcome 
Goodwin  stopped  at  the  gate  with  a  pair  of  horses  har 
nessed,  but  no  carriage.  The  Bo'son  met  him  at  the 
gate,  and  inquired  if  anything  was  the  matter. 

"  Yes,  Bo'son,  I  have  broken  an  axle-tree  of  my  wagon, 
just  below  here.  I  have  a  load  of  grain  on,  and  am 
going  to  Waterford  with  it,  and  if  I  return  for  another 
wagon,  it  will  make  me  late  home  this  evening.  I  have 
called  to  see  if  I  can  borrow  a  wagon  of  friend  Waters. 
Is  he  at  home?" 

"  No,  sir,  the  Captain  is  not  on  board,  but  you  can  have 
a  wagon,  and  the  Bo'son  to  help  change  your  cargo;  so 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON,  2 1 1 

just  make  fast  to  that  barge  lying  on  the  starboard  side 
of  the  barn,  and  we  will  soon  have  you  running  your 
course  again." 

"  Bo'son,  I  am  now  too  well  acquainted  with  friend 
Waters  and  thyself,  to  ask  if  thou  art  at  liberty  to  lend 
the  wagon,  and  will  hitch  to  it,  and  be  obliged  to  thee  for 
helping  me  unload  one  and  load  the  other  wagon." 

Welcome  Goodwin  soon  had  his  horses  before  the 
wagon,  and  a  short  distance  down  the  road  went  along 
side  of  the  broken  vehicle.  The  Bo'son  wouldn't  allow 
Mr.  Goodwin  to  touch  a  sack  of  grain,  and  in  a  very 
short  time  transferred  the  load  to  the  other  wagon,  show 
ing  such  strength  and  activity  as  astonished  the  good 
farmer,  saying,  as  one  sack  followed  another :  "  You 
haven't  the  right  suit  on,  Mr.  Goodwin,  to  handle  sacks 
of  grain." 

"  I  know  it,  Bo'son;  but  I  did  not  wish  to  give  thee  so 
much  trouble." 

"  It  is  no  trouble  to  me  to  handle  such  a  cargo  as  can 
be  stowed  in  one  of  these  crafts." 

"  I  should  think  so,  from  the  way  thou  hast  handled 
this,  and  I  thank  thee  for  thy  assistance.  This  afternoon 
I  will  return  the  wagon,  and  take  mine  to  be  repaired." 

"  You  are  very  welcome  to  what  little  assistance  the 
Bo'son  could  give  you,  and  I  wish  you  a  pleasant  voyage 
and  a  safe  return." 

"  Thank  thee,  Bo'son,  thank  thee,"  and  Mr.  Goodwin 
drove  on. 

When  he  was  out  of  sight,  the  Bo'son  went  to  his 
house,  got  some  small  rope,  returned  to  the  wagon,  and 
lashed  a  rail  under  it  in  such  a  manner  that  it  could  be 
moved.  He  then  yoked  up  the  oxen,  and  took  the  wagon 
to  his  workshop.  The  Bo'son  got  out  a  piece  of  his 
Delaware  oak,  and  went  to  work  making  a  new  axle-tree, 
and  long  before  farmer  Goodwin  returned,  it  was  finished 
and  painted.  When  Captain  Waters  returned,  having 
met  Mr.  Goodwin  on  the  road,  and  learned  from  him  what 
had  taken  place,  he  concluded  that  Bill  would  be  very 
likely  to  repair  the  damage,  and  went  immediately  to  the 
shop  where  the  Bo'son  was  working,  and  said  to  him  : 


2J2  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  Another  wreck,  Bo'son?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  but  only  a  partial  loss, — not  an  underwriter's 
case." 

"  I  see  you  are  repairing  without  calling  a  survey." 

"  Not  necessary,  sir,  in  this  case;  we  will  have  all 
finished  by  the  time  the  tide  turns  flood." 

"  I  am  glad,  Bo'son,  that  you  are  fixing  that  wagon, 
because  Mr.  Goodwin  is  one  of  our  kindest  neighbors, 
and  refused  any  pay  for  helping  team  our  things  from  the 
canal-boat  to  the  farm." 

"  I  remember  it,  sir;  and  I  remember,  too,  that  he 
turned  them  stiff-legged  oxen  into  their  places  for  me, 
which  it  took  a  better  land  sailor  than  the  Bo'son  to  do, 
and  I  have  been  wanting  a  chance  to  do  him  a  good  turn 
ever  since." 

"You  are  right,  Bo'son;  never  forget  a  favor,  though 
you  may  forgive  an  injury." 

"There  are  but  few  men  in  the  world  I  wouldn't 
gladly  do  a  favor, — and  none  about  here  except  old 
Hardgripe,  on  the  Ruckatucks,  who  is  not  worthy  of 
one." 

When  Welcome  Goodwin  returned  in  the  afternoon,  he 
was  surprised  to  find  his  wagon  ready  for  use,  and  offered 
to  pay  the  Bo'son  for  the  work. 

"  No,  no;  "  said  the  Bo'son,  "  there  is  no  pay  for  that 
job,  and  that  axle  will  not  break  while  the  wagon  lasts, 
for  it  is  made  of  the  best  seasoned  Delaware  oak,  that  I 
have  had  on  hand  over  seven  years.  You  did  us  a  favor 
when  our  goods  were  landed,  and  would  take  no  pay  for 
it,  and  you  did  me  a  great  favor  when  I  was  struck  with  a 
squall  plowing  with  the  oxen,  and  got  them  in  irons;  and 
I  have  been  wanting  an  opportunity  to  make  some  proper 
return  for  it." 

"What  I  did  was  nothing  compared  to  what  thou  hast 
done  That  axle  would  have  cost  three  dollars,  and  not 
been  as  good,  and  I  wish  to  pay  thee." 

"  It  cost  me  less  time  than  you  used  in  helping  us,  and 
I  can  receive  no  pay  for  it." 

While  they  were  talking  the  Captain  made  his  appear- 
ance,  and  justified  his  Bo'son  in  his  declining  any  com- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SOfr.  213 

pensation  for  what  had  been  done;  and  invited  farmer 
Goodwin  to  take  tea  with  the  family,  which  was  accepted, 
as  he  had  been  on  the  road  all  day,  with  only  a  light 
dinner. 

While  they  were  at  tea,  the  Bo'son  discovered  that  one 
of  Mr.  Goodwin's  horses  had  lost  a  shoe,  and  he  set 
another  in  the  place  of  it. 

When  farmer  Goodwin  was  about  leaving,  he  remarked 
that  he  would  have  to  drive  slow,  as  one  of  his  horses  was 
without  a  shoe.  Bill  asked  which  horse  and  which  foot, 
which  at  once  explained  what  had  been  done.  The  good 
man  was  again  anxious  to  pay,  but  was  again  respectfully 
refused.  He  left,  after  obtaining  a  promise  from  Bill  to  pay 
him  a  visit,  and  again  thanking  him  for  what  he  had  done. 

After  Mr.  Goodwin  had  gone,  the  Bo'son  said  to  his 
Captain : 

"  If  any  of  the  kind  people  about  here  get  on  the 
weather-bow  of  the  Bo'son  in  doing  a  good  turn,  they  will 
have  to  sail  fast." 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

THE  BO'SON  AND  DOG  SAVE  A  YOUNG  LADY  FROM 
DROWNING. 

A  FTER  the  return  of  the  family  from  New  York,  every- 
{*•  thing  at  the  Waters  farm  appeared  to  glide  along 
smoothly.  Captain  Waters  walked  over  his  land  occa 
sionally,  visited  the  men  in  the  fields,  conversed  freely 
with  them,  and  gave  such  directions  to  his  farmer,  as  when 
followed,  would  carry  out  his  wishes.  When  the  weather 
was  fine  the  Captain  drove  some  of  his  horses  every  day 
on  the  road,  and  was  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Waters  or 
Susie, — sometimes  by  them  both,  and  often  by  Lizzie. 

The  Captain's  two  sons  and  their  families  visited  the 
farm,  and  taking  them  to  ride  days,  and  entertaining  them 
evenings,  afforded  the  Captain  and  his  wife  much  pleasure. 

Captain  Waters  was  much  attached  to  his  two  sons  and 


2I4  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

their  families,  and  so  was  Mrs.  Waters.  It  was  one  of  the 
objects  of  buying  a  farm,  to  have  a  comfortable  home  for 
the  children  and  grandchildren  to  visit,  and  remember 
with  pleasure,  after  the  old  folks  shall  pass  away.  The 
Captain,  when  at  sea,  would  often  say  : 

"  Nancy,  how  well  I  remember  the  old  farm  where  I 
spent  my  youth,  and  also  the  looks  and  words  of  my 
grandfather  and  grandmother.  The  impressions  then 
made  on  my  young  mind  will  never  fade  from  my 
memory,  nor  can  I  ever  forget  the  kindness  of  those 
grandparents.  After  their  death,  and  while  I  was  still  a 
youth,  that  farm  was  my  father's,  and  there  I  remained 
until  I  became  a  sailor.  Every  hill  and  vale,  every  tree 
and  stump,  all  the  houses  and  buildings  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  the  old  church  and  school-house,  and  the  faces  of 
all  the  masters  who  taught  and  whipped  the  boys,  are  now 
as  fresh  in  memory  as  when  I  left  to  be  baptized  with  the 
ocean's  spray.  The  faces  of  my  schoolmates  are  still 
familiar  to  me,  but  many  of  them  are  no  longer  animated 
with  delight,  nor  their  eyes  sparkling  with  pleasure,  but 
are  dimmed  with  age,  or  forever  closed  upon  the  world. 
They  are  still  dear  to  my  memory,  and  I  am  pleased  to 
have  a  home,  tha'.  our  grandchildren  may  also  remember, 
when  we  are  no  more." 

Such  a  place  the  Captain  now  had,  and  in  the  full  en 
joyment  of  it,  with  his  family,  was  realizing  all  the  happi 
ness  he  had  anticipated. 

The  Captain  was  right,  and  his  reflections  in  his  mid 
night  watches  at  sea  had  taught  him  the  value  and  pleas 
ures  of  a  happy  childhood  home.  Those  who  have  no 
such  sweets  to  remember,  lose  half  the  charms  of  life, 
and  often  pass  to  the  grave  in  the  belief  that  there  was 
nothing  refreshing  in  youth,  no  green  spots  along  the 
road  of  manhood,  and  nothing  to  cheer  and  console  in 
the  twilight  of  age. 

Captain  Waters'  sons  and  their  families  do  not  belong 
to  our  narrative,  and  are  only  mentioned  as  being  mem 
bers  of  the  family  for  whose  happiness  the  country  home 
had  been  provided. 

Mrs.  Waters,  after  her  return  from  the  city,  assisted  by 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO 'SON.  2I5 

Susie  and  Lizzie,  arranged  the  house  for  winter,  though 
winter  had  not  yet  appeared.  Mrs.  Waters  did  not  feel  that 
because  they  possessed  enough  to  hire  all  done  that 
needed  doing,  that  her  hands  must  always  be  idle.  She 
taught  and  practiced,  that  in  the  active  duties  of  house 
keeping,  consisted  most  of  its  pleasures ;  and  her  daugh 
ter,  Laura  Morton,  after  visiting  the  farm,  was  willing  to 
admit  that  her  mother  was  right.  Mrs.  Waters  now  had 
a  double  motive  in  view.  She  wished  to  teach  Susie 
many  things  about  housekeeping,  which  could  only  be 
taught  by  practice.  Susie  was  as  anxious  to  learn  as  her 
grandmother  was  to  teach.  So  they  had  a  pleasant  time 
together. 

The  duties  performed  by  Mrs.  Waters  and  Susie  were 
not  laborious,  or  fatiguing.  Others  were  employed  at 
that ;  but  in  a  large  and  well  kept  house,  with  the  chang 
ing  of  the  seasons,  there  is  always  enough  of  light  work 
for  willing  hands  to  do. 

Susie  worked  and  sung,  cheering  all  that  were  in  the 
house,  including  her  grandfather,  who  was  never  wearied 
with  her  songs.  Captain  Waters  was  an  inveterate  hater  of 
pianos,  and  loved  Susie  all  the  more  because  she  liked 
them  no  better  than  he  did  himself. 

Susie  Morton  was  a  child  of  nature,  and  one  of  na 
ture's  best  children.  She  had  a  sweet,  clear  voice,  and 
it  seemed  so  natural  for  her  to  sing,  and  there  was  so 
much  melody  in  her  songs,  that  all  who  heard  her  listened 
with  delight.  She  had  taken  lessons  on  the  piano  while 
at  school,  though  much  against  her  own  wishes.  She 
took  the  lessons  in  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  her  pa 
rents,  but  never  used  the  piano  for  her  own  gratification. 
She  disliked  the  tones  of  the  instrument,  believing  that 
they  drowned  the  sweetest  tones  of  the  voice. 

The  Bo'son,  after  returning  from  what  he  called  his 
"  last  voyage," — his  trip  to  New  York, — often  spent  an 
evening  at  the  different  neighboring  farm-houses,  where 
he  was  always  a  welcome  guest,  and  interested  the 
farmers  and  their  families  with  tales  of  other  lands,  and 
of  storms  at  sea.  If  there  was  a  raising  of  a  house,  or  a 
barn,  the  Bo'son  was  among  the  first  invited.  He  would 


2J5  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

take  with  him  tackles  and  ropes,  of  which  he  had  a  large 
supply,  and  well  knew  the  use  of,  and  on  such  occasions 
could  always  do  double  duty.  When  the  first  piece  was 
raised  and  secured,  the  Bo'son  would  go  "  aloft,"  and  with 
a  rope  haul  up  others  ;  and  when  the  highest  piece  was 
in  place,  he  would  call  for  a  flag,  which  he  always  took  with 
him,  and  raise  it  high  above  the  Wilding,  where  it  would 
float  until  sundown  of  that  day.  In  moving  buildings  he 
was  equally  useful,  and  always  ready  to  go,  and  take  with 
him  his  dog.  When  on  the  ground,  he  would  have  the 
dog  fetch  and  carry  articles  that  he  could  take  in  his 
mouth ;  and  in  moving  a  building,  the  dog  was  sure  to 
have  hold  of  the  fall  of  the  tackle,  and  do  as  much  pull 
ing  as  the  best  man. 

The  dog  was  as  well  known,  and  as  much  of  a  favorite, 
as  his  master.  The  story  of  his  saving  the  life  of  little  Nel 
lie  Williams  was  known  to  all  the  farmers  for  miles  around. 
The  dog  on  great  occasions,  when  he  went  visiting  with  his 
master,  wore  on  his  neck  a  silver  collar,  the  gilt  of  Nellie, 
with  a  full  account  of  that  act  engraved  on  it ;  and  the 
Bo'son  wore  a  silver  chronometer  watch,  the  gift  of  Nel 
lie's  father. 

Captain  Williams,  with  his  wife  and  little  girl,  often 
stopped  at  the  Basin,  and  visited  the  farm.  The  dog 
was  generally  the  first  to  see  and  welcome  them.  On 
their  first  visit,  Captain  Williams  presented  the  Bo'son 
with  the  watch,  and  little  Nellie  clasped  the  collar 
around  the  neck  of  the  dog.  The  Bo'son  refused  money  for 
aiding  to  save  the  child  from  drowning,  but  did  not 
decline  accepting  the  watch,  as  a  keepsake  and  token 
of  regard. 

Little  Nellie  was  a  favorite  of  the  whole  family,  after 
learning  of  her  rescue  from  drowning,  by  the  Bo'son  and 
his  dog. 

It  was  only  a  short  time  after  returning  from  New 
York,  that  the  Bo'son,  with  his  dog,  was  crossing  the 
Hudson  River,  on  the  old  rope  ferry-boat,  when  the  dog 
again  distinguished  himself  by  saving  the  life  of  a  much 
larger  girl  than  Nellie  Williams. 

Mary  Arnold,  a  beautiful  young  girl  of  twelve  years, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON. 

was  crossing  from  school,  on  the  same  boat,  to  meet  her 
father,  who  was  waiting  with  a  carriage  to  take  her 
nome,  a  distance  of  about  two  miles.  When  the  boat 
was  two  thirds  the  way  over,  a  pair  of  horses  attached 
to  a  wagon,  became  frightened  from  some  cause,  started 
suddenly,  alarming  Mary,  who  incautiously  stepped  back 
wards,  and  over  the  side  of  the  boat.  The  Bo'son  was 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  boat,  but  the  dog  saw  the 
young  girl  fall,  and  giving  the  alarm,  followed  her.  The 
Bo'son  comprehended  the  dog's  alarm,  and  was  soon  in 
the  water  after  the  dog.  The  current  was  very  strong, 
and  swept  them  rapidly  from  the  boat.  Mary  was 
greatly  alarmed,  and  when  the  dog  reached  her,  she 
chisped  her  arms  around  his  neck  in  such  a  way  as  not  to 
be  able  to  raise  her  own  head  above  the  water,  but  to  keep 
the  nose  of  the  dog  under  it.  The  Bo'son  was  not  a 
half-minute  later  than  the  dog,  or  Mary  Arnold  and  the 
Bo'son's  dog  might  both  have  been  drowned.  The  Bo'son 
took  Mary  in  his  arms,  and  she  immediately  let  go  of  the 
dog  and  placed  her  arms  around  his  neck,  naturally  sup 
posing  that  he  was  the  greatest  safeguard.  The  result 
would  have  been  the  same  as  with  the  dog,  had  not  the 
Bo'son's  strength  and  experience  as  a  swimmer,  taught 
him  how  and  enabled  him  to  act.  He  placed  himself  on 
his  back,  and  said  encouragingly,  "  Don't  be  alarmed, 
miss,  you  can't  be  drowned  where  the  Bo'son  and  his  dog 
are." 

Mary  haa  heard  of  the  Bo'son  and  his  dog,  and  was 
no  longer  alarmed.  Bill  said : 

"  Now,  miss,  just  place  one  arm  over  the  dog's  shoulder, 
and  take  hold  of  the  loose  skin  on  the  other  side  ;  and 
then  take  hold  of  my  collar  with  the  other  hand,  and  we 
will  soon  be  safe  ashore." 

Mary  did  as  directed;  the  Bo'son  swam  quartering 
towards  the  shore,  heading  partly  up  stream,  so  as  not  to  be 
swept  too  much  down  the  river,  and  soon  landed  safely. 

When  the  ferry-boat  landed,  and  Mr.  Arnold  learned 
that  his  daughter  had  fallen  into  the  river,  he  was  greatly 
alarmed ;  but  dismissed  his  fears  when  told  who  were 
with  his  child,  saying  : 

19 


aig  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

*'  She  will  never  drown  where  the  Bo'son  and  his  dog 
are." 

Mr.  Arnold  drove  down  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
was  on  the  spot  to  receive  his  daughter,  when  the  Bo'son 
landed.  Great  was  his  joy,  and  greater  was  that  of  his 
daughter,  when  they  met.  Old  Bose  was  as  joyful  as  any 
of  them,  and  persisted  in  trying  to  lick  all  the  dampness 
from  Mary's  hands  and  clothes. 

Mr.  Arnold  thanked  the  Bo'son,  and  so  did  Mary, 
while  she  was  petting  the  dog  ;  and  the  father  and 
daughter  both  insisted  on  Bill's  going  home  with  them, 
after  Mary  had  supplied  herself  with  dry  clothing, 
from  an  aunt  near  by  ;  but  Bill  said  : 

"  I  am  on  duty,  sir,  at  the  present  time,  and  only  fail 
in  doing  it,  when  life  is  in  danger.  I  thank  you  for  the 
invitation,  and  will  call  with  the  dog  the  first  opportunity 
that  I  have.  The  dog  will  always  be  a  friend  to  your 
daughter,  and  not  forget  her  while  he  lives.  If  you  have 
no  objection,  I  will  bring  black-eyed  Susan  with  me  when 
I  come." 

"  I  don't  know  who  you  mean  by  black-eyed  Susan,  but 
assure  you,  that  you  and  all  your  friends,  will  be  always 
welcome  at  my  house." 

"  I  mean,  sir,  Miss  Susie  Morton,  granddaughter  of 
Captain  Waters,  and  the  pride  and  glory  of  the  fleet." 

"  Miss  Morton  will  be  a  very  acceptable  visitor.  Please 
present  my  compliments  to  Captain  Waters,  and  ask  him 
to  call  with  his  lady." 

They  had  all  walked  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Arnold's  sis 
ter,  and  while  Mr.  Arnold  and  the  Bo'son  were  talking 
outside,  Mary,  in  the  house,  had  changed  her  clothing, 
and  came  to  the  door  ready  to  ride  home. 

After  again  thanking  the  Bo'son,  and  petting  the  dog, 
Mr.  Arnold  and  his  daughter  left  for  home. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO'SON.  2i.j 

'CHAPTER  XLV. 

FRIENDS  VISIT  THE  FARM. 

BILL  Thomas  the  Bo'son,  and  his  dog,  had  in  Saratoga 
been  objects  for  general  remark  and  approbation  ; 
and  a  second  instance  of  their  saving  life, — that  of  Mary 
Arnold,  who  would  have  been  drowned  but  for  their 
assistance, — gave  them,  in  Washington  County,  the  same 
reputation  they  had  in  Saratoga. 

As  the  story  of  Mary  Arnold's  falling  into  the  river,  and 
her  rescue,  was  told  from  one  to  another,  so  was  the  his 
tory  of  the  Bo'son  and  his  dog,  and  their  many  success 
ful  efforts  in  saving  life  related.  The  story,  as  it  was 
handed  from  one  to  another,  so  increased  and  magnified, 
that  one  credulous  individual  asserted  that  the  Bo'son  and 
his  dog,  after  having  saved  at  different  times  over  one 
hundred  lives,  were  shipwrecked,  and  succeeded  only  in 
saving  themselves  ;  and  that  they  landed  on  an  uninhab 
ited  island,  and  there  remained  together  twenty  years. 
Not  one  word  of  which  was  true. 

A  few  days  after  the  time  that  Mary  Arnold  fell  into 
the  river,  her  father,  mother  and  herself,  called  at  the  farm, 
on  a  visit  to  the  family.  The  Captain  and  Mr.  Arnold 
were  previously  acquainted.  The  ladies,  old  and  young, 
soon  became  so,  and  were  mutually  pleased  with  each 
other. 

The  visitors  had  not  alighted  from  the  carriage,  before 
the  dog  recognized  those  whom  he  had  previously  met. 
Great  was  the  joy  of  the  dog  at  the  meeting.  His  partic 
ular  attention  was  paid  to  Mary,  and  the  two  met  as 
old  friends. 

The  visit  was  made  at  the  request  of  Mrs.  Arnold, 
who  wished  to  see  the  Bo'son  and  his  noble  dog,  who 
had  saved  the  life  of  her  only  child.  Warm  and  earnest 
were  her  thanks,  and  great  her  admiration  of  the  dog. 
Mrs.  Arnold  asked  the  Bo'son  if  he  would  sell  the  dog, 
that  they  might  always  have  him  with  them,  and  treat  him 
with  kindness  for  saving  their  daughter.  The  Bo'son  an 
swered  : 


22o  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  I  couldn't  part  with  him,  marm:  we  have  been  so  long 
together  that  we  should  both  be  uncomfortable  if  sepa 
rated.  I  have  frequently  been  offered  what  some  would 
consider  large  sums  of  money  for  him,  but  he  is  not  for 
sale."  Then  turning  to  the  dog  he  said  .•  "  Bose,  do  you 
hear ;  the  lady  wants  to  buy  you,  because  you  are  a  good 
old  dog.  You  go  and  bring  me  the  collar  that  Nellie 
Williams  gave  you,  and  be  sure  you  shut  the  door  when 
you  come  out  of  the  house." 

The  dog  answered  with  one  bark  and  left.  Mrs.  Ar 
nold  asked  if  the  dog  really  understood  all  that  was  said 
to  him. 

"  Yes,  lady,  every  word  ;  and  the  door  of  my  house  is 
so  arranged,  that  he  can  both  open  and  shut  it.  He  will 
soon  return  with  the  collar." 

The  dog  did  return,  bringing  with  great  care,  in  his 
mouth,  the  silver  collar  presented  by  Nellie  Williams. 
The  Bo'son  directed  the  dog  to  give  it  to  Mrs.  Arnold, 
which  he  did.  The  lady  read  the  inscription,  after  hav 
ing  examined  the  collar,  and  then  handed  it  to  her 
daughter.  Mary  also  examined  it,  and  observed  that  it 
was  very  pretty. 

The  Bo'son  said  :  "  Mrs.  Arnold,  you  have  noticed  by 
what  is  on  the  ring,  that  I  refused  one  hundred  dollars  for 
the  dog  at  that  time." 

"  Yes,  I  do,  Bo'son,  and  that  is  not  strange.  Now, 
Bo'son,  as  Mrs.  Waters  has  suggested,  will  you  let  us  see 
your  house  ? " 

Bill  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  led  the  way  to  his 
house.  He  sent  the  dog  ahead,  with  directions  to  open 
the  door,  that  the  visitors  might  be  convinced  how  well 
the  dog  understood  the  directions  given  him.  When  they 
reached  the  house,  the  Bo'son  showed  them  the  arrange 
ments  of  the  door,  and  how  the  dog  could  open  and 
shut  it. 

Bill  Thomas  took  as  much  pleasure  in  giving  the  names 
and  explaining  the  uses  of  articles  which  were  strange  and 
new  to  visitors,  as  he  did  in  keeping  everything  in  and 
about  the  place  in  perfect  order. 

There  were  very  many  things  in  the  Bo'son's  house  that 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  2  2  r 

interested  visitors.  It  was  to  many  like  a  museum,  because 
the  articles  were  curiosities,  and  arranged  with  a  tasre 
which  was  specially  characteristic  of  the  owner.  No 
visitor  ever  left  the  Bo'son's  house  without  being  gratified 
with  the  visit. 

Mr.  Arnold  asked  the  Captain,  when  Bill  was  not  in 
hearing,  if  the  Bo'son  would  accept  a  sum  of  money  for 
having,  with  his  dog,  saved  Mary,  and  was  informed  that 
he  would  not. 

Mr  Arnold  and  family  left,  after  a  pleasant  visit,  and 
a  promise  from  Captain  Waters  that  it  should  be  returned, 
with  the  Bo'son  and  dog  in  the  party. 

After  the  visitors  had  left,  Susie  said : 

"  I  have  never  seen  a  more  lady-like  woman  than  Mrs. 
Arnold,  nor  a  sweeter,  prettier  child  than  her  daughter." 

Captain  Waters  remarked  :  "  I  fully  agree  with  you, 
Susie,  and  think  that  Mr.  Arnold,  and  his  pretty  wife 
and  daughter  have  captured  us  all." 

"  If  there  is  a  pretty  woman  about,  you,  Joseph,  are 
always  sure  to  notice  and  admire  her,"  said  the  wife. 

"  I  was  always  so — it  is  my  nature,  and  that  is  why  I 
went  after  you,  Nancy,  when  you  were  young,  for  then 
you  were  the  prettiest  girl  in  the  whole  country,  and  you 
have  been  growing  handsomer  ever  since." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  you  silly  old  man ;  what  nonsense 
for  one  of  your  years." 

"  I  hope,  mother,  not  to  live  to  be  too  old  to  love  a 
pretty  woman,  for  then  I  shall  cease  to  love  you." 

"  There,  there ;  stop  where  you  are,  Joseph  Waters," 
said  his  wife,  and  left  the  room  laughing. 

"Susie,  your  grandmother  likes  a  good  joke,  if  she  is 
getting  in  years." 

"  And  you,  grandpa,  like  to  give  one,  if  you  are  an 
elderly  man." 

"That  is  so,  my  dear  ;  and  your  grandmother  and  my 
self  have  had  many  a  one  between  us;  but  in  the  long 
years  that  we  have  lived  and  sailed  together  we  have 
never  had  an  unpleasant  word  with  each  other,  never  dis 
puted,  one  with  the  other,  about  large  or  small  matters. 
Your  grandmother  has  been  of  great  assistance  to  me, 


222  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

and  often  calmed  my  feelings,  when  they  were  ruffled  by 
others.  We  have  lived  together  as  man  and  wife  should, 
each  year  increasing  our  love  and  esteem." 

"  I  know  it ;  and  you  are  a  warm-hearted,  jolly  old 
couple,  commodore." 

"  Now,  Susie,  I  am  greatly  pleased  that  you  are  here 
with  us,  for  you  may  learn  from  your  grandmother  les 
sons  that  will  be  valuable  to  you  through  life." 

"  I  am  equally  pleased  to  be  here,  and  to  learn  and  profit 
by  her  wisdom  and  her  experience.  Father  and  mother, 
you  are  aware,  are  now  not  only  reconciled  to  my  learn 
ing  all  the  duties  of  housekeeping,  but  anxious  that  I 
should  do  so.  They  fully  realize  the  difference  between  a 
useful  and  a  superficial  education  for  a  young  woman." 

"  Yes,  my  little  humming-bird ;  and  they  fully  realise 
how  near  they  came  in  wrecking  your  happiness,  which 
they  would  have  done,  could  they  have  had  their  own 
way ;  and  done  it  to  secure  a  happiness  they  would 
have  destroyed.  What  have  you  learned  about  Fratik  and 
Julia?" 

"  Nothing  that  is  encouraging  for  their  future.  They 
have  not  made  their  bridal  tour.  Before  Frank  had  suffi 
ciently  recovered  to  travel,  Julia  had  cried  herself  sick 
with  disappointment,  and  is  still  in  splendid  wretchedness, 
confined  to  her  sick-room,  not  having  realized  a  single 
hour  of  happiness  since  she  was  married.  Frank  con 
tinues  to  spend  his  evenings  from  home,  returning  late, 
and  often  so  intoxicated  that  his  servants  have  to  help 
him  to  his  room.  Mother  has  been  much  with  Julia, 
both  day  and  night,  since  we  left,  as  my  aunt  broke  down 
after  the  first  few  days,  having  shared  in  a  measure  the 
disappointment  of  my  cousin." 

"  I  am  sorry,"  said  the  Captain,  "  for  Julia,  after  all ; 
though  she  entered  into  the  arrangement  in  the  full 
knowledge  of  facts,  which  should  have  restrained  her." 

"  That  is  so,  grandpa,  but  for  all  that  I  pity  her;  and 
the  worst  has  not  yet  come.  What  she  now  suffers  is  only 
th~  beginning  of  her  sorrows." 

"  Yes,  Susie,  I  think  you  are  right ;  and  the  future  to 
her  will  be  dreary." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  .      22^ 

"  Grandpa,  I  cannot  tell  why  it  was ;  but  from  my  first 
acquaintance  with  Mr.  Livingston,  and  before  he  became 
dissipated,  whenever  he  approached  me  there  was  with 
me  a  feeling  of  chilliness,  that  I  could  never  account  for. 
He  was  a  gentleman,  and  always  courteous  and  polite  to 
ladies.  His  person  was  pleasing,  and  his  manner  kind, 
but  still  there  came  the  chilly  dread  of  something  unseen 
and  unknown." 

"  It  must  have  been  electricity,  my  child;  I  have  often 
felt  it  at  sea,  when  a  storm  was  approaching,  and  there 
was  no  visible  signs  of  it;  but  why  you  should  have  felt 
it,  at  the  approach  of  Mr.  Livingston,  is  more  than  I 
can  explain.  Thank  God  you  are  not  his  wife,"  said 
Captain  Waters,  devoutly,  taking  off  his  hat  before  utter 
ing  his  thanks. 

"  Yes,  Grandpa,  all  my  life  will  I  thank  my  Heavenly 
Father,  that  he  and  you,  and  others,  with  my  own  resolu 
tion,  saved  me  from  such  a  fate,  and  I  wish  that  Julia  might 
also  have  been  saved.  Grandma  is  calling,  and  I  must 
leave  you." 

Susie  gave  her  grandfather  a  kiss,  and  left  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

THE    BO'SON    REVEALS    A    SECRET,     AND    LOSES    A    CARGO 
OF    TURNIPS. 

DURING  the  fall  months,  and  while  the  harvest  was 
being  gathered  in,  all  at  the  Waters  farm  went 
smoothly,  indoors  and  outside.  If  ever  an  old  sea  cap 
tain  and  his  wife  were  happy  and  contented,  Joseph  and 
Nancy  Waters  were.  Bill  Thomas  the  Bo'son,  the  old 
steward,  and  Lizzie  Jarvis,  shared  with  their  captain  and 
his  wife  the  happiness  realized  at  the  country  home. 

Susie  Morton  was  full,  and  running  over  with  happi 
ness;  not  a  difficulty  now  crossed  her  path,  for  the  Bo'son 
had  whispered  something  in  her  ear  about  George  Wilson 
which  gave  a  new  and  pleasing  tone  to  the  tenderest  feel- 


224 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


ings  of  a  pure  and  loving  heart.  It  was  nothing  that 
George  had  authorized  the"  Bo'son  to  say,  but  a  full  belief 
of  his  own,  communicated  in  such  a  form  as  satisfied 
Susie  that  all  would  come  to  pass  as  she  wished.  Susie 
found  something  to  occupy  every  moment,  and  in  what 
she  was  doing,  found  amusement.  With  her  grandfather 
Susie  had  many  a  severe  test  of  wit,  that  kept  him  in  good 
spirits,  and  amused  Mrs.  Waters.  The  Captain  rallied 
her  on  every  subject  but  the  one  nearest  her  heart,  and 
failed  not  on  that,  because  it  never  occurred  to  him  but 
from  his  love  for  Susie,  and  a  tender  regard  for  the  secret 
feelings  of  her  heart.  He  never  mentioned  the  name  of 
George  Wilson  as  being  the  lover  of  Susie,  or  likely  to  be 
her  future  companion,  because  his  eyes  were  fixed  on 
her,  when  her  father  asked  the  question,  "  Are  you  en 
gaged  to  George  Wilson?'  Though  Susie,  with  her 
accustomed  command  over  every  feeling  and  action, 
answered  with  apparent  calmness  and  unconcern,  that 
she  was  not,  and  that  George  had  never  intimated  any 
thing  of  the  kind  to  her,  Captain  Waters  saw,  though 
only  for  an  instant,  a  slight  flush  pass  across  the  placid 
features  of  Susie  Morton.  The  rose-tint  that  came  and 
went  so  instantaneously,  conveyed  to  the  keen  perceptions 
and  penetrating  eyes  of  the  old  Captain  a  secret  of  Susie's 
heart,  which  remained  undiscovered  by  her  father  or  any 
one  else  in  the  room.  That  secret  the  Captain  deter 
mined  to  keep  until  time  and  others'  acts  should  reveal  it. 

Down  deep  in  the  heart  of  every  pure-minded  maiden, 
there  is  a  fountain  of  love,  that  may  long  remain  un- 
tasted  by  the  one  for  whom  it  would  freely  flow,  and  in 
many  instances  is  never  drawn  to  the  surface,  remaining 
unknown  to  all,  but  its  possessor.  If  the  one  for  whom 
it  would  freely  flow  is  so  blessed  as  to  discover  and  drink 
from  it,  happiness  will  surely  be  his  reward. 

Captain  Joseph  Waters  found  such  a  well,  and  for  more 
than  forty  years  had  been  drinking  freely  from  it  ;  and 
sailor  though  he  was,  appearing  at  times,  to  some,  as 
rough  in  his  manners,  yet  none  knew  better  than  he 
the  sweets  of  such  a  fountain.  He  had  enjoyed  a  pure 
strcn-n  of  love  himself,  and  could  fathom  the  depths  of 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO* SON.  22c 

such  a  fountain  in  the  heart  of  another.  He  accidentally 
discovered  the  spring  in  Susie's  heart,  and  determined  to 
let  it  flow  undisturbed,  until  George  Wilson  should  come 
and  drink  from  it. 

Susie,  naturally  happy  m  her  disposition,  at  the  house 
of  her  grandfather,  in  the  country,  found  new  sources  of 
enjoyment,  and  new  pleasures  for  every  moment.  In  the 
fore-part  of  the  day,  she  was  with  her  grandmother  in  the 
house,  perfecting  herself  in  domestic  duties,  which  she 
performed  with  the  same  pleasure,  that  too  many  appear 
to  enjoy,  in  doing  nothing.  Susie  was  so  cheerful  and 
handy,  that  she  was  welcomed  in  every  part  of  the  house. 
Lizzie  was  pleased  to  see  her  up  stairs,  the  steward  in 
the  kitchen,  Mrs.  Waters  in  the  milk-room,  the  Bo'son  in 
the  midship-house,  and  Captain  Waters  everywhere.  In 
every  part  of  the  house,  during  the  forenoon  of  each  day, 
Susie  could  find  something  for  her  little  hands  to  do, 
while  she  told  a  pleasing  tale,  or  sung  a  lively  song.  In 
the  afternoon,  if  any  one  in  the  neighborhood  was  sick, 
Susie,  with  her  grandmother  and  grandfather, — when  he 
was  at  liberty, — and  otherwise,  with  the  Bo'son  as  driver, 
would  visit  the  sick,  always  carrying  with  them  comfort, 
and  such  delicacies  as  are  acceptable  to  invalids.  Susie, 
like  the  dog,  possessed  the  secret  of  opening  the  door 
of  the  Bo'son's  house,  and  in  his  absence,  often  visited 
it ;  but  always  found  it  so  clean  and  neat,  that  she  could 
do  very  little  to  improve  its  appearance,  though  she 
always  left  some  token  of  her  regard  for  the  occupant,  to 
remind  him  of  her  esteem.  Her  tokens  were  such  as  a 
handkerchief,  hemmed  and  marked  ;  a  necktie,  such  as 
Bill  wore  ;  a  pair  of  socks,  or  mittens,  of  her  own  knitting, 
and  sometimes  a  large  bouquet  would  be  left  in  a  jar  on 
his  table.  When  the  Bo'son  returned,  and  found  in  his 
house  such  tokens  of  regard,  he  would  say  : 

"The  morning-glory  has  been  here  again.  God  bless 
her,  all  the  time  and  everywhere." 

Lizzie  and  Susie  managed  a  little  surprise  lor  the 
Bo'son.  They  made  a  set  of  curtains  for  the  windows 
and  berths  of  his  house,  of  the  same  kind  of  material 
used  on  board  of  ships,  and  put  them  up  in  the  same 


226  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

manner  ;  and  also  two  bed-spreads,  one  white  for  the 
spare  berth,  and  one  blue  for  the  berth  used  by  the  Bo'son. 
When  all  was  arranged,  in  the  absence  of  the  Bo'son, 
Susie  placed  herself  in  a  large  closet,  opening  from  the 
room,  leaving  the  door  a  little  open,  so  that  she  could  see 
the  Bo'son  when  he  entered,  and  hear  what  he  would 
say,  knowing  his  habit  of  talking  to  himself.  Bill  Thomas 
entered,  and  looking  about  the  house  a  little  surprised, 
but  more  delighted,  said : 

"  Fayal  and  Pico,  Floras,  Ticera,  and  all  the  Azoras  ! 
if  that  morning-glory  hasn't  been  here  again,  and  Lizzie 
with  her;  for  black-eyed  Susan  isn't  sailor  enough  yet  to 
fix  things  in  such  seaman-like  manner.  Well,  Heaven 
bless  them  both,  for  they  are  worthy  of  it ;  may  Susie 
have  George  for  a  husband,  and  Lizzie  the  only  man  fit 
to  be  her  mate,  and  that  one  is  Bill  Thomas  the  Bo'son." 

The  Bo'son  had  taken  off  his  hat,  in  respect  to  what 
he  saw  and  admired,  and  as  he  finished  speaking  to 
himself,  the  closet  door  opened,  Susie  sprang  out,  and 
throwing  her  arms  around  the  Bo'son's  neck,  and  kissing 
him,  said  : 

"  You  dear,  good  old  Bo'son  ;  so  you  love  Lizzie,  and 
mean  to  marry  her  some  day.  I  am  pleased  to  know  it, 
for  you  both  deserve  to  be  happy." 

"  Yes,  rosebud  ;  you  have  learned  a  secret,  from  my 
habit  of  talking  to  myself,  and  I  know  that  you  will  keep 
it  for  us.  Lizzie  and  I  have  known  each  other  for  more 
than  twenty  years,  and  together,  have  been  many  times 
around  the  world.  Since  we  came  here,  we  have  had  more 
time  to  think  and  talk,  than  we  had  at  sea,  for  then  we 
had  other  duties  to  perform.  Our  arrangement  is  only 
known  to  ourselves,  and  depends  on  what  Captain  and  Mrs. 
Waters  may  say  about  it." 

"  They  will  think  well  of  it,  I  am  sure  ;  but  you  musn't 
be  married  till  I  am  grown  up,  and  get  married  myself." 

"  You  needn't  fear  about  that,  little  charmer,  as  it  may 
be  years  before  we  are  married ;  and  after  that  we  shall 
remain  with  our  Captain  and  his  wife." 

"  That  is  all  right,  Bo'son  ;  now  what  do  you  think  of 
these  fixings  ?  " 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  22- 

"  They  are  very  fine,  and  make  the  house  look  all  the 
better  for  their  being  here.  Wasn't  I  right  in  saying  that 
Lizzie  helped  you  ?  " 

"Yes  ;  and  so  did  grandmother  Waters." 

"  I  didn't  suspect  her,  but  Mrs.  Waters  always  has  a 
hand  in  good  works." 

In  a  pleasant  way  the  Bo'son  and  Susie  passed  an  hour 
in  talking  about  the  past  and  future.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  the  Captain  was  heard  shouting,  "  Bo'son!  Bo'son  !  " 

"Aye  !  aye  !  sir;  coming." 

"  There  is  a  strange  hog  in  the  potato  field, — go  drive 
him  out,  Bill." 

"Aye  !  aye!  sir  ;"  answered  Bill,  touching  his  hat,  and 
starting  for  the  field  in  which  the  hog  was.  The  Bo'son 
opened  the  gate,  and  expected  no  trouble  in  driving  out 
the  hog,  but  found  it  was  not  so  easy  a  matter.  The  hog 
would  pass  the  gate  every  time,  with  some  snorting  pecu 
liar  to  the  animal,  and  after  many  unsuccessful  attempsto 
get  the  hog  out,  Bill  caught  him  by  the  hind  legs,  saying: 
"I'll  make  a  wheel-barrow  of  you,  and  wheel  you  out." 
It  was  a  brilliant  idea  of  the  Bo'son's,  and  his  first  attempt 
at  converting  a  four  hundred  pound  hog  into  a  wheel 
barrow.  Bill  was  very  strong  in  his  hands  and  arms,  or 
the  hog  might  have  converted  him  into  some  agricultural 
implement,  or  a  dredging  machine.  As  it  was,  the  hog 
kicked  and  squealed  without  being  wheeled  a  foot,  and 
Bill  thought  his  arms  might  be  unjointed  at  the  shoulders; 
but  as  was  his  custom,  talked  or  tried  to  talk,  and  suc 
ceeded  only  in  a  half  way  kind  of  saying  something  that 
sounded  like  : 

"  Ki-ke-kic,  squeal  all  you  ca-can,  bu-but  ge-get  on  out 
o-of  th-this.'' 

After  a  severe  struggle,  the  Bo'son  and  hog  both  fell  to 
the  ground.  Bill  was  the  first  up,  and  holding  the  hog  by 
one  hind  leg,  placed  the  call  in  his  mouth  and  blew  some 
broken  notes, — for  the  hog  continued  to  kick.  The  dog 
heard  the  whistle,  and  though  he  didn't  understand  the 
notes,  he  went  to  his  master's  assistance.  Bill  was  satis 
fied  that  he  could  manage  any  animal  on  the  farm,  with 
the  help  of  the  dog.  Bill  was  pleased  when  he  saw  the 
dog,  and  said  : 


22g  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  Now,  Bose,  take  him  by  the  ear  and  tow  him  out,  and 
I'll  push  what  I  can  aft,  and  the  two  of  us  will  clear  the 
coast  of  him." 

The  dog  obeyed,  and  the  field  was  soon  free  of  the 
strange  hog ;  the  Bo'son  saying  either  to  the  dog  or  him 
self,  and  it  was  difficult  to  determine  which  : 

"  We  have  had  a  tussle  with  all  the  different  animals 
about  here,  and  beat  them  all.  They  didn't  understand 
us  at  first,  nor  we  didn't  understand  them,  but  we  are 
getting  acquainted." 

A  few  months  on  the  farm  had  in  no  way  changed  the 
Bo'son,  with  the  exception  of  the  knowledge  of  farming 
and  of  cattle  that  he  had  gained.  He  was  as  active  and 
industrious  on  the  farm,  as  he  had  been  on  the  ship  ; 
looking  after  and  taking  care  of  everything, — ever  ready, 
with  a  strong  helping  hand,  where  he  was  most  needed, 
and  could  be  most  useful.  The  Bo'son  was  as  willing  to 
help  or  oblige  a  neighbor,  as  to  be  engaged  in  duty  at  home. 
His  good  nature  and  good  temper  never  departed  from 
him,  and  it  was  generally  remarked  by  the  farmers  in  the 
neighborhood,  that  the  Bo'son  learned  how  to  do  farm 
work  very  fast,  which  must  be  accounted  for  by  his  desire 
to  learn. 

The  Bo'son  met  with  only  one  other  mishap  (shipwreck, 
as  he  would  term  it,)  during  the  gathering  of  the  crops. 
On  that  part  of  the  farm  most  distant  from  the  house,  had 
been  a  field  of  turnips,  which  had  been  pulled  and  topped, 
ready  for  the  cellar.  Bill  considered  himself  fully  com 
petent  to  hauling  them  with  the  oxen,  and  a  two-wheeled 
cart.  He  yoked  up  the  cattle,  put  them  before  the  cart, 
went  to  the  field,  and  loaded  for  home.  All  went  well 
until  he  was  ascending  a  steep  hill  near  the  house, — the 
Bo'son  walking  beside  the  oxen,  with  that  peculiar  wide 
movement  of  the  legs  belonging  to  sailors  in  general,  and 
to  the  Bo'son  in  particular,  the  goad  on  his  shoulder,  and 
tarpaulin  hat  well  back  on  his  head,  and  he  singing  : 

"  All  in  the  Downs  the  fleet  lay  moored, 

The  streamers  waving  in  the  wind, 
When  black-eyed  Susan  came  on  board ; 
O,  where  shall  I  " — 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO1  SON.  22p 

The  dog  gave  a  peculiar  bark.  Bill  looked  around, 
jumped  before  the  oxen,  and  shouted : 

"Whoa!  stiff-legs!" 

The  back-board  of  the  cart  had  fallen  out,  and  the 
load  of  turnips  had  left  the  cart,  and  were  rolling,  one 
over  another,  down  the  hill,  while  the  dog  was  making 
desperate  efforts  to  stop  them  with  his  mouth  and  legs. 
Bill,  in  a  half  standing  and  half  sitting  posture,  with  a 
hand  on  each  hip,  watched  them,  laughing  all  over  his 
face,  and  shouting : 

"  There's  a  mess  of  turnips  for  you  !  Go  it,  big  ones  ! 
Go  it,  little  ones  !  Now  is  your  time,  before  you  are 
biled  !  Let  'em  go,  Bose  !  it  is  their  get  this  time." 

After  the  Bo'son  had  enjoyed  a  long  and  hearty  laugh 
at  the  accident  and  the  result  of  it,  he  blew  his  whistle 
for  assistance.  Captain  Waters  was  the  first  to  hear  and 
answer  the  signal  of  distress.  The  Captain  saw  at  a 
glance  what  had  happened,  and,  with  his  Bo'son,  enjoyed 
it,  saying : 

"  Another  shipwreck,  Bo'son  ?  " 

"  Not  of  the  ship,  sir.  She  is  sound,  excepting  the 
stern-frame  ;  that  has  given  away,  and  the  whole  cargo  is 
overboard, — but  it  isn't  perishable,  or  liable  to  damage 
from  sea-water." 

"  What  do  you  call  this,  Bo'son,  a  shifting  of  the  cargo?  " 

"Yes,  sir;  from  in-board  to  out-board." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  ?  Call  a  survey, 
or  take  it  aboard  again  ? " 

"  If  you  have  no  orders  to  give,  sir,  I  will  '  haul  every 
thing  hard  aback,  and  make  a  stern-board '  down  to  the 
cargo,  and  take  it  in  again." 

"You  have  the  deck,  Bo'son,  and  can  handle  the  ship 
to  suit  yourself,"  said  the  Captain,  and  left  the  ground. 

Bill  backed  the  oxen  down  the  hill,  and  with  assist 
ance  of  one  of  the  farm  hands,  soon  loaded,  and  went 
safely  to  the  barn  cellar. 


830  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

CHAPTER  XLVII. 

GEORGE  WILSON  ARRIVES,  AND  MATTERS  ARE  ARRANGED. 

THE  fall  work  was  finished,  and  all  prepared  for  winter 
at  the  Waters'  farm,  and  the  time  was  fast  ap 
proaching  when  Susie  Morton  would  leave  for  a  visit  to 
her  father  and  mother  in  New  York. 

The  name  of  George  Wilson  was  often  spoken  in  the 
family,  but  only  as  it  had  always  been  spoken,  since 
Captain  Waters  first  undertook  to  educate  and  prepare 
him  to  fight  his  way  in  the  world,  and  seek  his  bread  and 
honor  on  the  ocean.  The  family  regarded  George  as 
belonging  to  it,  each  and  all  of  them  feeling  an  interest 
in  his  welfare  and  success. 

The  ship  that  George  was  first  officer  of  was  expected 
soon  to  arrive,  and  all  at  the  farm  hoped  that  he  would 
make  them  a  visit,  before  sailing  on  another  voyage. 
Could  the  family,  or  any  member  of  it,  have  analyzed  or 
understood  George  Wilson's  feelings,  they  would  have 
no  doubt  about  a  visit.  Under  ordinary  circumstances 
he  would  have  called  on  his  Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters ; 
but  Susie  being  with  them,  was  an  additional  inducement 
for  him  to  visit  the  farm. 

When  George  was  last  at  the  farm,  and  when  he  sailed 
on  his  voyage,  the  question  of  Susie's  marrying  Frank 
Livingston  was  settled  only  in  her  own  mind,  and  George 
had  not  felt  at  liberty,  depending  on  his  wages  for  sup 
port,  to  make  any  declaration  of  the  interest  he  felt  in 
Susie,  or  any  opposition  to  her  union  with  Livingston. 
The  only  hope  he  had  was  resting  on  an  unguarded  ex 
pression  of  the  Bo'son, — "  Susie  will  never  be  called  Mrs. 
Livingston." 

How  the  Bo'son  knew  was  more  than  George  could 
tell,  for  Bill  Thomas,  much  as  he  loved  Wilson,  would 
not  reveal  to  him  any  secret  received  from  Susie  Morton, 
though  he  hoped  and  trusted  that  he  might  live  to  see 
them  united  as  husband  and  wife.  It  would  have  been 
hard  for  the  Bo'son  to  tell  which  of  the  two  he  loved 
best,  but  they  were  both  objects  of  his  special  care  and 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  2$i 

esteem;  one  as  a  noble-hearted  sailor-boy,  the  other 
as  a  tender-hearted,  loving  and  confiding  girl. 

One  forenoon,  late  in  the  fall.  Captain  Waters  drove  up 
to  Quaker  Springs  on  some  business,  and  when  returning 
discovered  that  the  Bo'son  had  set  the  ship  "  Neptune's  " 
private  signal,  and  the  American  flag,  at  his  masthead. 
The  Captain  knew  that  some  of  the  family,  or  some  old 
friend  had  arrived,  and  meeting  Bill  at  the  gate,  said: 

"  Well,  Bo'son,  what  saint's  day  is  it  now,  that  you  dis 
play  the  colors  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Wilson  has  arrived,  sir,  and  come  on  board." 

"So  you  thought  you  would  show  the  bunting.  Why 
didn't  you  fire  a  salute?" 

"  I  did  think  of  it,  sir,  but  concluded  that  it  would 
make  too  much  noise  in  the  harbor,  and  the  people 
would  ask  questions.  I'll  fire  one  now,  if  you  will  give 
the  order." 

"  Never  mind  about  it,  Bo'son;  but  where  is  George?" 

"  In  the  house,  sir,  with  the  women  folks." 

"  Very  well,  I'll  go  and  see  him." 

In  the  short  absence  of  Captain  Waters,  George  Wilson 
had  arrived  at  the  farm,  and  been  warmly  welcomed  by 
every  member  of  the  family.  Susie  met  him  as  she  would 
have  met  a  dearly  loved  brother,  and  George  met  her  as  a 
few  days  before  he  had  met  his  only  sister,  whom  he  loved 
better  than  he  loved  himself. 

When  Captain  Waters  entered  the  sitting-room,  he 
found  the  whole  family  there,  including  Lizzie  and  the 
steward ;  the  Bo'son  following  his  Captain  into  the  nom. 
George  left  his  seat  and  crossed  the  room  to  greet  his 
Captain,  who  had  been  a  father  to  him.  Captain  Waters 
was  not  satisfied  with  shaking  him  by  the  hand,  but  took 
him  in  his  arms,  and  called  him  a  brave  sailor-boy, 
handling  him  as  though  he  was  only  a  y^'ing  lad.  At 
length  he  said: 

tr  George,  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  my  boy ;  you  are  wel 
come  to  the  harbor." 

"Thank  you,  sir  ;  I  feel  more  at  home  in  your  family 
than  anywhere,  excepting  when  I  am  with  mother  and 
sister." 


232  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  We  have  always  considered  you  one  of  our  family," 
said  Mrs.  Waters,  "  and  hope  that  you  will  always  feel  at 
home  with  us." 

"  I  am  so  much  indebted  to  your  kindness,  and  that  of 
Captain  Waters,  that  I  should  be  wanting  in  every  good 
feeling,  if  I  was  unmindful  of  my  obligations,  or  un 
grateful  for  your  goodness.  I  thank  you,  Mrs.  Waters, 
for  your  generous  invitation,  and  assure  you  that  your 
home  will  always  be  like  one  to  me." 

The  Bo'son  had  remained  standing,  unnoticed  by  the 
Captain,  who,  when  he  perceived  it,  said  : 

"  Sit  down,  Bo'son.  What  are  you  standing  there  for, 
with  your  hat  in  your  hand  ? " 

"  Waiting  for  orders,  sir." 

"  You  need  no  orders  when  you  are  in  with  the  family ; 
then  you  are  off  duty." 

"  Long  service  and  habit  have  taught  me  not  to  act 
without  orders,  sir." 

"Well,  don't  be  foolish  because  George  is  on  board." 

"Joseph,"  said  the  wife,  "you  are  hauling  your  sea- 
tacks  aboard,  because  we  have  a  young  sailor  with  us." 

"Yes,  Nancy;  that  is  all  natural;  and  some  of  your 
expressions  are  well  salted.  We  don't  use  tacks,  nor  sheets 
on  a  farm." 

What  Mrs.  Waters  said  about  considering  George  as 
one  of  the  family,  had  no  reference  to  any  arrangements 
which  might  be  entered  into  between  him  and  Susie;  nor 
was  it  intended  to  open  and  pave  the  way  for  Mm  to  go 
forward ;  but  all  proceeded  from  her  love  for  the  youth, 
and  the  innate  goodness  of  her  heart. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  afternoon,  George  and  Susie 
spent  an  hour  together,  and  were  engaged  to  be  com 
panions  through  life.  They  had  known  each  other  from 
early  childhood,  had  nothing  to  inquire  about,  nor  any 
thing  to  communicate,  more  than  that  they  loved  each 
other,  and  desired  to  be  happy.  The  offer  was  made  in 
love  and  faith,  accepted  in  candor  and  confidence.  They 
were  both  in  earnest,  and  both  confiding. 

Later  in  the  afternoon,  they  asked  an  interview  with 
Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters,  when  George  fully  and  frankly 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON  233 

stated  what  had  been  done,  and  asked  their  approval  and 
blessing. 

"  George,  my  boy,  you  have  done  the  best  thing  you 
ever  did  in  your  life,  and  you  have  my  full  approbation, 
and  best  wishes  for  your  happiness.  And  you,  darling," 
(catching  Susie  in  his  arms  and  kissing  her)  "  will  have 
just  the  kind  of  a  man  you  ought  to  marry.  May  Heaven 
bless  you  both." 

Mrs.  Waters  remained  silent,  with  a  serious,  but  satis 
fied  expression  of  her  mild  and  sweet  face.  Susie,  when 
released  from  her  grandfather's  arms,  went  and  sat  at  the 
side  of  her  grandmother,  resting  her  head  on  grand 
mother's  shoulder.  The  kind,  good  woman  put  one  arm 
around  Susie,  and  then  calmly  said : 

"  George,  you  will  take  our  greatest  treasure  from  us, 
but  I  had  rather  trust  her  with  you  than  any  other  man 
that  I  know ;  take  her,  love  her  always,  and  be  always 
happy.  She  is  worthy  of  you,  and  you  are  worthy  of  her. 
May  Heaven's  richest  and  choicest  blessings  be  scattered 
all  around  you." 

After  they  had  been  sitting  a  little  while  together, 
George  asked  : 

"  Captain  Waters,  do  you  think  that  Mr.  Morton  will 
approve  of  our  union  ? " 

The  Captain's  warm  feelings  were  all  in  favor  of 
George,  and  his  hot  blood  was  stirred  at  the  bare  thought 
that  any  opposition  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Morton  should 
interfere  with  his  own  wishes,  and  the  happiness  of 
those  whom  he  loved  ;  and  without  sufficient  consideration, 
said  : 

"By  thunder!  he  shall  consent,  or  I'll  break  his " 

"  Stop,  stop,  Joseph,"  said  his  wife. 

"  George,  continued  the  Captain,  very  calmly,  "  Susie 
shall  be  your  wife,  with  the  full  approbation  of  her 
father  and  mother." 

"  Now,  Joseph,  you  talk  like  yourself  again.  I  thought 
you  were  going  to  be  struck  with  a  heavy  squall." 

"  I  was  very  near  being  struck  ;  but,  mother,  you  got  to 
windward  of  me,  and  broke  its  force,  as  you  often  do.  I 
can't  help  gettingj>ff  my  course  sometimes,  in  these  vari- 


234  CAPTAItf  WATERS 

able  winds,  but  you  always  set  me  right,  Nancy.  Now, 
having  the  present  arranged,  let  us  talk  of  the  future." 

"  Grandfather,  you  will  please  remember  that  my  dear 
father  and  mother  are  greatly  changed  in  their  views  and 
wishes  in  regard  to  my  settlement  in  life,  and  will  chee-- 
fully  sanction  my  engagement  with  George,  saving  you* 
thunder  and  breakage." 

"  Yes,  Susie,  I  am  fully  aware  of  it,  and  also  that  you 
enjoy  a  good  joke  as  well  as  your  grandmother." 

"  Or  the  Commodore,"  said  Susie. 

"  George,"  continued  the  Captain,  "you  are  now  fairly 
started  on  the  voyage  of  life,  with  brighter  prospects  than 
many  start  with,  and  so  far  you  have  acted  wisely  and 
justly.  Knowing  your  great  anxiety  about  your  mother 
and  sister,  and  your  efforts  to  provide  for  their  comfort  and 
support,  I  conclude  that  you  do  not  propose  to  be  married 
immediately,  nor  would  I  recommend  it." 

"  Capt'n,  I  am  still  young,  and  so  is  Susie.  The  world 
is  before  us,  and  we  can  well  afford  to  wait  our  time. 
Had  our  family  been  situated  as  it  now  is,  when  I  was 
last  here,  I  should  have  then  offered  myself  to  Susie,  but 
I  was  not  in  a  situation  to  provide  for  mother  and  sister, 
and  also  support  a  wife,  nor  could  I  tell  how  long  it 
would  take  me,  to  reach  such  a  position.  Favorable  cir 
cumstances  have  changed  our  condition,  and  relieved  me 
from  responsibility  and  anxiety." 

"What  do  you  mean,  George?  I  have  heard  noth 
ing." 

"  You  are  aware,  sir,  that  when  my  father  was  lost  at 
sea,  he  was  largely  interested  in  the  ship  and  cargo,  and 
that  the  insurance  companies,  on  some  technical  grounds, 
refused  to  pay  their  losses  ;  and  that  all  these  long  past 
years,  since  my  father's  death,  the  owner  of  the  ship  has 
been  fighting  the  insurance  companies  in  the  courts  of 
law  ?" 

"  I  know  it,  George  !  I  know  it !  "  said  the  Captain,  a 
little  excited. 

"  Well,  sir,"  continued  George,  "  the  test  suit  has  been 
decided  in  favor  of  the  ship  and  owners,  and  all  the  offi 
ces  have  paid  up, — my  good  mother  receiving  enough  to 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  ^e 

amply  supply  her  and  sister  with  every  comfort  which 
money  can  purchase." 

Captain  Waters  jumped  from  his  chair,  and  shouted  : 

"  Glory  !  glory  to  Gideon  !  " 

"  Joseph  Waters,  what  in  the  world  do  you  mean  ?  Do 
stop  using  such  words." 

"  I  mean,  Nancy,  glory  to  Gideon  Rowland,  for  his 
pluck  and  success." 

"  If  that  is  all  you  mean,  what  you  said  is  not  out  of 
the  way." 

"George,"  said  the  Captain,  "I  congratulate  your 
mother,  sister,  and  yourself,  on  your  receiving  at  last 
your  just  dues;  and  can  trust  one  with  Susie,  who  has 
been  so  mindful  of  his  mother  and  sister.  What  say  you 
to  that,  Nancy  ?  " 

"  I  say,  Joseph,  that  young  men,  who  are  good  to  their 
mothers  and  sisters,  always  make  good  husbands,  espe 
cially  when  they  use  no  intoxicating  drinks." 

"  That  is  so,  my  good  woman  ,"  and  now,  George,  you 
just  go  on  as  you  have  begun,  and  when  you  feel  equal  to 
the  command  of  a  ship,  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in 
procuring  one  for  you." 

"  I  understand,  and  thank  you,  Captain  Waters,"  was 
George's  reply,  and  the  party  separated. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

MR.  AND  MRS.   MORTON  CHANGE  THEIR  VIEWS. 

p  EORGE  Wilson  could  spend  only  a  few  days  at  the 
vJ  farm,  with  his  friends,  as  the  ship  was  engaged  to 
freight  a  cargo  of  flour  and  grain  to  Liverpool,  at  extra 
rates;  being  a  fast  ship  and  insuring  low. 

It  was  arranged  that  Susie  should  return  to  New  York 
in  company  with  George,  as  they  both  wished  to  see  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Morton  before  George  sailed  on  another  voyage, 
and  it  was  re.commend'ed  by  Captain  Waters,  that  all  the 
parties  -'iterested  should  meet  at  the  same  time. 


236 


CAPTAIX  WATERS 


While  at  the  farm,  George  and  Susie  spent  togethei 
some  very  pleasant  hours.  Susie  had  much  to  tell,  and 
George  much  to  learn.  Between  them  there  was  no  fool 
ish,  sickening  sentimentalism, — they  loved  each  other,  they 
both  knew  and  both  confessed  it.  Susie's  love  for  George 
was  as  pine  as  the  snow  on  the  mountains  ;  his  for  Susie 
was  as  deep  as  the  ocean,  and  as  true  as  the  needle  to  the 
pole.  They  spent  the  hours  as  they  had  always  done 
when  together,  in  social,  unrestrained  conversation.  The 
presence  of  Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  did  not  disturb  them, 
nor  interfere  with  their  conversation  ;  and  that  delighted 
the  Captain  and  his  wife. 

Susie  gave  George  a  full  account  of  her  long  struggle 
to  overcome  her  father's  wish,  that  she  should  be  the  wife 
of  Frank  Livingston  ;  told  him  how  much  she  had  been 
assisted  by  her  grandparents  ;  softening  in  her  own  gen 
tle  manner,  all  the  hard  points  in  the  last  conversation  of 
the  family  on  that  subject.  When  Susie  had  related  all 
that  was  proper  of  the  interview  with  her  father,  mother 
and  grandparents,  and  spoken  affectionately  of  the  happy 
change  in  her  father's  opinion  and  wishes  ;  she  laid  one 
of  her  little  hands  in  George's,  and  the  other  on  his 
shoulder,  and  looking  him  earnestly  and  lovingly  in  the 
face,  said : 

"  George,  you  have  sailed  long  with  Bill  Thomas  the 
Bo'son;  you  think  you  know  him,  you  think  you  esteem 
him,  but  you  do  not  know  him,  nor  do  you  esteem  him,  as 
he  should  be  known  and  esteemed.  The^Bo'son  has  a 
heart  as  large  as  an  elephant,  and  it  is  full  of  tender  feel 
ings  and  of  warm  blood.  All  his  tender  feelings  and  warm 
sympathies  he  would  lavish  on  your  little  affianced  bride, 
and  ever)'  drop  of  warm  blood  in  his  noble  heart  he  would 
freely  spill,  to  protect  or  make  me  happy." 

George  never  turned  his  eyes  from  Susie's  sweet  face 
while  she  was  speaking,  and  when  she  paused,  he  out  his 
arms  around  her,  saying  : 

"  You  little  angel." 

What  George  did  may  be  inferred  from  what  Captain 
Waters  said,  who  was  standing  at  an  open  door  near  them, 
but  out  of  sight,  and  heard  all  that  Susie  said  of  the 
Bo'son. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON. 


237 


"  Hold  on,  George,  don't  take  'em  all,  leave  me  some," 
and  seizing  Susie  in  his  arms,  heartily  finished  what  George 
had  so  affectionately  commenced. 

Susie,  though  her  eyes  were  moistened  from  the  well- 
spring  of  a  warm  heart,  overflowing  with  love  and  grati 
tude  for  the  Bo'son,  was  not  in  the  least  disturbed  nor 
flustered  because  grandfather  had  caught  George  in  such 
an  interesting  occupation.  The  confidence  and  love  ex 
isting  between  her  grandfather  and  herself,  was  too  great 
for  any  fear  or  distrust  to  exist.  Susie  was  fully  able, 
with  all  her  tender  feelings,  to  command  herself,  and  say 
what  would  have  relieved  them  from  embarrassment,  if 
they  had  been  embarrassed.  She  said  : 

"  It  is  well  that  I  inherit  a  good  constitution  from  my 
grandfather,  and  am  not  easily  smothered." 

Captain  Waters  and  George  both  laughed,  and  the  Cap 
tain  said: 

"I  am  glad,  beauty,  that  you  have  inherited  something 
besides  a  good  constitution,  from  your  grandfather.  You 
are  not  afraid  nor  ashamed  to  express  a  good  opinion  of 
one  worthy  of  it.  I  knew  Bill  the  Bo'son  before  you  were 
born,  before  your  father  and  mother  were  acquainted,  and 
will  endorse  all  that  you  have  said  of  him.  What  he  would 
do  for  you,  Susie,  he  would  do  for  any  of  our  family,  and 
often  spends  hours  in  doing  a  favor  for  a  stranger." 

"  I  have  known  him  since  I  was  a  small  boy  on  the 
ship,"  said  George,  "  and  all  that  I  know  of  seamanship, 
I  learned  from  the  Bo'son  ;  and  on  the  ship  he  showed, 
whenever  there  was  an  opportunity,  the  same  noble  traits 
of  character,  that  he  now  exhibits  here  in  the  country." 

"  He  always  seems  pleased  when  I  express  to  him  my 
good  opinion,  but  it  does  not  change  him  in  the  least, 
otherwise  than  to  make  him  more  anxious  to  do  some 
thing  for  my  interest,  which  he  considers  his  own.  It 
was,  George,  for  him  and  the  others,  that  I  bought  the 
farm." 

"  I  fully  appreciate  your  kindness,  and  thank  you  for 
it;  I  must  give  him  a  call  this  morning  at  the  'midship- 
house,  or  he  will  feel  neglected,"  was  George's  reply. 

Captain  Waters  left  the  room,  and  Susie  gave  George  a 


238  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

brief  account  of  Julia's  marriage,  and  the  condition  of 
Mr.  Livingston  on  that  evening,  and  for  the  following  two 
weeks, — also  of  Julia's  disappointment  and  sickness. 

George  merely  said,  "poor  Julia,"  and  left  to  visit  the 
Bo'son. 

George  found  the  Bo'son  not  in  his  house,  but  at  the 
shop,  shoeing  a  horse  for  one  of  the  neighbors.  Mr. 
Wilson  was  a  little  surprised  to  find  the  Bo'son  at  such 
work,  and  witness  how  handy  he  was  at  it,  and  after 
watching  him  for  a  time,  said: 

"  Bo'son,  that  is  a  business  you  couldn't  have  learned 
at  sea." 

"  No,  sir,  but  I  soon  took  to  it  after  coming  aboard  the 
farm." 

"  Is  that  one  of  the  Captain's  horses?" 

•'  No,  sir,  this  horse  belongs  to  a  poor  widow,  with  four 
children,  and  not  money  enough  to  spare  for  having  him 
sharp-shod.  I  heard  of  it  last  evening,  and  this  morning 
I  went  there  and  asked  her  to  let  me  shoe  him,  and  next 
year  I  would  take  some  early  apples  from  her  orchard 
for  the  pay.  I  said  that  so  as  not  to  hurt  her  feelings. 
Neither  her  horse  nor  her  children  shall  want  shoes  while 
Captain  Waters  and  his  Bo'son  live  in  this  part  of  the 
world."  4 

"  Bo'son,  you  are  always  doing  good  to  somebody." 

"  That  is  the  way,  Mr.  Wilson,  we  should  live,  in  help 
ing  one  another ;  then  more  people  would  be  happy  than 
now  are.  It  costs  me  nothing  but  a  little  time  and  iron 
to  shoe  this  horse,  and  it  will  be  a  great  benefit  to  the 
poor  woman.  If  I  was  not  doing  this,  I  might  be  doing 
nothing,  but  pitying  the  poor  woman,  as  the  men  do  \vho 
are  idling  away  their  time  in  the  store.  I  pity  and  help; 
they  pity  and  do  nothing." 

"  Bo'son,  you  are  right;  if  the  hours  which  men  spend  in 
idleness  were  devoted  to  assisting  the  poor,  much  distress 
would  be  relieved,  and  much  good  done." 

When  the  Bo'son  had  finished  shoeing  the  hors«,  he 
went  with  George fto  his  house,  and  there  the  two  had  a 
long  conversation  of  the  past  and  future. 

When  the  time  came  for  George  and  Susie  to  leave  for 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO* SON.  23$ 

New  York,  Captain  Waters  made  Susie  promise  that  she 
would  return  soon  after  the  holidays. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  had  all  their  lives  been  ac 
customed  to  partings  with  family  and  friends,  but  in 
parting  with  Susie,  even  fora  short  time  on  that  occasion, 
was  a  severe  trial  of  their  philosophy.  Susie  had  en 
twined  herself  around  their  hearts,  and  it  was  a  struggle 
for  them  to  part  with  her. 

When  George  reached  the  city  with  Susie,  he  accom 
panied  her  in  a  carriage  to  her  father's,  spent  a  short  time 
with  her  mother,  Mr.  Morton  being  from  home,  and  when 
leaving,  remarked  that  he  would  have  the  pleasure  of 
calling  in  the  evening. 

George  Wilson  called  that  evening,  and  asked  an  op 
portunity  of  speaking  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton.  It 
was  granted,  and  George,  sailor  like,  in  plain  language, 
stated  his  case.  Mr.  Morton,  in  a  very  kind  manner, 
replied: 

"  Mr.  Wilson,  in  the  few  past  months  my  views  and 
opinion  on  Susie's  marriage  have  undergone  a  great 
change.  Could  I  then  have  had  my  way,  I  should  have 
wrecked  her  happiness.  Wiser  counsels  than  my  own 
judgment  dictated,  prevailed,  and  Susie  was  saved.  My 
life  has  been  devoted  to  commerce,  and  the  accumulation 
of  money.  I  had  false  notions  of  a  father's  duty,  and  of 
the  best  means  of  securing  the  happiness  of  an  only 
daughter.  Circumstances  lifted  the  veil  which  darkened 
my  vision,  and  I  clearly  saw  my  error.  I  have  since 
concluded  that  domestic  happiness  depends  on  affection, 
congeniality  of  dispositions  and  habits,  and  not  on  wealth 
and  position  in  society.  We  know  you,  Mr.  Wilson,  from 
childhood,  and  if  Susie  loves  and  accepts  you,  our  con 
sent  will  be  freely  given  for  your  union,  when  the  proper 
time  arrives." 

"  I  fully  unite  with  my  husband  in  his  consent,  being 
willing  to  trust  Susie's  happiness  with  you,"  was  the  re 
sponse  of  Mrs.  Morton. 

"  I  thank  you  both  for  your  sanction  of  our  engage 
ment,  and  promise  you,  as  I  have  promised  Susie  and  her 
grandparents,  that  if  she  is  not  happy,  it  will  be  no  fault 
of  mine,"  was  the  reply  of  George. 


240  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

George  then  stated  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morton  what  his 
plans  were  for  the  future,  and  what  Ootain  Waters  had 
promised  in  regard  to  a  ship. 

Mr.  Morton  approved  of  the  arrangement,  and  said  : 

"  After  I  was  satisfied  of  the  great  mistake  I  had  made 
in  wishing  Mr.  Livingston  to  be  the  husband  of  my 
daughter,  and  learned  how  much  better  Susie  could  judge 
than  myself  who  should  be  her  companion  through  life, 
I  concluded  to  let  her  make  her  own  choice,  without  any 
influence  on  my  part ;  and  I  am  satisfied  with  her  choice." 

"You  have  been  over-kind,  my  dear  father,  and  give 
me  more  credit  for  good  judgment  than  I  deserve.  It  was 
George  who  chose  me." 

"  We  will  not  argue  the  question,  Susie,  of  who  was  first 
in  the  choice,  as  it  appears  that  each  was  the  first  choice 
of  the  other.  The  world  is  before  you,  my  children; 
love  each  other,  receive  a  father's  blessing,  and  be  happy." 

Mr.  Morton  went  to  where  Susie  and  her  mother  were 
sitting,  kissed  first  his  daughter,  then  his  wife,  and  re 
turning  to  George,  shook  him  cordially  by  the  hand. 

After  a  little  general  conversation,  Susie  asked  her 
mother  of  Julia's  health  and  prospects  of  happiness. 

"Julia  has  been  restored  to  health,  but  her  prospects 
of  happiness  are  not  bright.  Mr.  Livingston  is  very 
irregular  in  his  habits,  and  is,  your  father  thinks,  making 
great  inroads  on  his  property;  but  that  is  so  ample  it  may 
take  some  time  to  waste  it  all.  Julia  lives  in  splendid 
style,  has  but  little  of  Frank's  society,  and  is  far  from 
being  happy.  It  is  sad  to  see  one  so  endowed  by  nature, 
and  so  blessed  with  the  treasures  of  this  world,  wreck  and 
ruin  himself.  He  and  Julia  were  educated  with  false  no 
tions  of  life  and  their  duties,  and  acting  on  their  convic 
tions,  will  long  seek,  without  finding,  the  sources  of  true 
happiness." 

"  Mother,  I  think  that  my  cousin  has  not  yet  drunk  her 
bitterest  cup  of  disappoirtment  and  sorrow.  There  arc 
dark  and  dismal  days  in  the  future  for  poor  Julia." 

"You  made  a  very  fortunate  escape,  Susie,"  said  the 
father,  "  and  are  indebted  to  your  own  firmness,  backed 
by  father  and  mother  Waters,  for  being  able  to  convince 


AND  SILL,  'HIS  BO  'SON  24 r 

me  of  my  great  error  in  wishing  to  match  you  with  wealth 
and  position,  unaccompanied  by  worth  and  manhood." 

"  Your  great  and  only  wish,  dear  father,  was  to  see  me 
truly  happy.  You  mistook  the  road  which  would  lead  to 
happiness,  and  willingly  left  it,  when  you  found  that  you 
were  wrong." 

"  And  in  doing  so  strengthened  the  cords  of  love  and 
affection  which  bind  our  family  closely  together,  and 
learned  a  valuable  lesson,  that  I  would  leave  as  a  rich  leg 
acy  to  those  who  come  after  me,"  was  her  father's  reply. 

"  William,"  said  his  wife,  "  we  were  both  in  error.  I 
thought  that  Susie  should  not  know  how  to  do  the  least 
thing  about  the  house.  Mother  Waters  convinced  me  of 
my  error;  took  Susie,  a  simple  girl,  just  out  of  a  boarding- 
school,  and  not  physically  rugged,  and  in  a  few  months, 
returns  her  to  us  improved  in  strength,  and  an  accom 
plished  house-keeper.  Mother  always  took  a  common- 
sense  view  of  every  subject;  and  had  she  not  been  at  sea 
with  father,  and  been  able  to  attend  to  my  education,  I 
should  have  had  less  to  learn  after  we  were  married." 

"  Well,  Laura,  as  we  have  both  been  wrong,  both  seen 
and  given  up  our  errors,  we  can  impart  some  lessons  of 
wisdom  to  our  children,  which  may  assist  them  in  their 
journey  through  life.  Now  let  us  say  good  evening." 

The  parents  and  children  separated,  mutually  pleased 
with  the  meeting  and  its  results. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

HARDE^GRIP    KILLS    HIS   HOGS  AND    LOSES   HIS   SAUSAGES. 

AFTER  George  Wilson  and  Susie  Morton  left  the 
^~l  Waters  Snug  Harbor,  those  remaining  on  the  farm, 
and  especially  the  Captain  and  Bo'son,  appeared  for  a  few 
days  very  lonely.  The  captain  used  his  horses  on  the 
road  in  pleasant  weather,  and  was  generally  accompanied 
by  Mrs.  Waters.  When  the  weather  or  roads  were  un- 
suited  to  riding,  the  Captain  was  occupied  with  reading, 

1 1 


242 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


and  conversing  with  Mrs.  Waters,  in  the  house,,  or  with 
the  Bo'son  at  his  shop. 

Bill  Thomas  managed  to  find  something  to  occupy  him 
self  with  all  the  time.  He  took  particular  pride  in  keep 
ing  the  family  carriage  and  buggy  wagon  clean,  and  in 
order  for  use ;  also  all  the  harness.  The  farm  wagons 
were  washed,  painted,  and  put  under  the  sheds.  The 
wood-work  of  the  plows,  harrows,  and  other  farming  im 
plements,  was  painted,  and  they  were  put  away  in  their 
places. 

The  leaves,  as  they  had  fallen  from  the  trees,  were 
raked  up,  and  taken  in  a  wheelbarrow  to  the  compost 
heap,  to  be  used  in  the  spring  in  fertilizing  the  land ;  and 
all  the  withered  vines  in  the  garden  were  gathered  up  and 
disposed  of  in  the  same  way.  The  grounds  around  the 
house  were  kept  in  perfect  order  by  the  Bo'son  ;  not  a 
chip  nor  straw  was  allowed  to  rest  unseen,  or  not  removed 
by  Bill  Thomas. 

Mr.  Harrowell  was  in  the  habit  of  saying  to  the  neigh 
bors  : 

"  There  is  no  difficulty  in  managing  a  farm,  when  there 
is  such  a  man  around  as  the  Bo'son.  He  keeps  every 
thing  in  order,  and  knows  where  everything  is." 

The  Bo'son  surprised  the  old  farmers,  by  the  facility 
with  which  he  would  shackle  together  a  broken  ox-chain, 
or  couple  a  broken  trace-chain,  with  shackles  and  coup 
lings  brought  from  the  ship. 

At  killing  time,  the  Bo'son  also  surprised  the  farmers 
with  his  knowledge  of  curing  meats.  He  had  obtained  it 
on  board  of  ships  when  on  whaling  voyages. 

Bill  had  made  a  set  of  meat  casks,  sufficient  to  hold  all 
the  meat,  both  beef  and  pork,  which  the  Captain  wished  to 
put  down. 

When  a  farmer  is  through  with  his  fall  work,  his  cellar 
filled  with  the  products  of  the  soil,  the  orchard  and  stock- 
pens,  his  barn  filled  with  hay,  and  his  granary  well  sup 
plied  ;  then,  if  there  is  an  independent  and  happy  man, 
it  is  the  farmer. 

Such  was  the  case  at  the  farm  of  Captain  Waters,  and 
all  there  were  prepared  to  enjoy  a  country  life,  made 
cheerful  with  an  abundance  of  good  things  to  eat. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  243 

When  all  that  was  to  do  on  the  farm  had  been  done, 
the  Bo'son,  one  pleasant  afternoon,  was  in  his  shop,  en 
gaged  in  fitting  up  an  ox-sled,  when  he  received  a  visit 
from  Mr.  Hardengrip.  The  Bo'son  was  civil  to  everyone, 
but  he  had  few  compliments  for  a  man  he  so  despised. 

Hardengrip  looked  at  the  Bo'son  for  at  least  two  min 
utes  after  receiving  his  good-day,  and  then,  without  re 
turning  the  compliment,  said  : 

"  I  call,  Bo'son,  to  see  if  I  could  get  you  to  help  me 
kill  hogs  to-morrow." 

"  It  is  out  of  my  line,  Mr.  Hardgripe." 

"  Hardengrip  is  my  name,  Bo'son  ;  and  if  it  is  a  little 
out  of  your  line,  you  might,  in  hog-killing,  be  handy  to 
give  a  lift  here  and  there." 

"  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  go,  Mr.  Hardergripe. 
There  are  men  about  here  who  make  a  business  of  going 
out  at  such  work,  and  you  can  get  as  many  of  them  as 
you  want." 

"  They  all  want  wages,  Bo'son,  and  want  cash.  I 
thought  you  might  come  and  help  me  a  day,  and  some 
time  I  could  come  and  help  you  a  day  ;  so,  by  changing 
work,  I  should  save  paying  the  money." 

'  I  don't  think  we  can  trade  in  any  way.  Our  work 
is  all  done  that  you  could  assist  in,  and  the  Bo'son 
don't  go  out  killing." 

"  I  shall  have  quite  a  number  of  people  to  provide  a  dinner 
for;  do  you  think  the  steward  would  be  willing  to  come  over 
and  cook  for  me,  and  that  Lizzie  would  assist  for  one 
day  about  the  house-work,  sasage-meat,  cases,  and  other 
things  ?  As  I  have  no  one  but  myself  to  feed  this  win 
ter,  I  thought  I  should  make  a  large  quantity  of  sas- 
ages,  and  sell  'em  all.  They  are  bringing  a  high  price, 
and  will  turn  to  considerable  cash,  if  I  can  only  get  them 
made,  without  having  to  pay  for  it." 

"  We  are  short-handed  at  present,  Mr.  Hardergripe, 
and  there  is  no  chance  for  you  to  get  a  single  man  out 
of  the  ship." 

"  Well,  how  is  it  about  the  women,  Bo'son  ?  They  tell 
me  that  Mrs.  Waters  is  a  great  worker,  and  quick  at  such 
matters,  and  that  when  she  does  visit  a  poor  neighbor, 


244  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

always  takes  with  her  a  large  supply  of  good  provisions, — 
pies,  cakes,  and  the  like." 

"  Mrs.  Waters  is  quick  and  handy  at  all  work,  and  her 
'lockers'  are  always  full  of  good  stores;  they  are  well 
cooked,  and  she  is  never  afraid  to  empty  the  '  lockers'  on 
proper  occasions,  but  she  has  other  arrangements  for  to 
morrow,  and  can't  go." 

'*  She  is  just  the  person  that  I  most  want,  one  that 
brings  a  great  deal,  does  much  work,  and  wants  no  pay, — 
not  even  a  small  piece  of  fresh  pork  to  take  home  with  her. 
I  can  put  the  killing  off  for  a  day  or  so,  if  she  would  come." 

"  I  don't  think,  Mr.  Hardestgripe,  that  you  could  put 
off  your  killing  until  Mrs.  Waters  would  be  sufficiently 
disengaged  to  be  with  you." 

"  I  want  such  a  person  very  much,  and  would  put  the 
killing  off  for  a  week  to  have  her.  I  don't  think  there  is 
another  such  person  in  this  part  of  the  country.  It  isn't 
every  day  that  they  are  met  with." 

"  If  you  put  the  killing  off  for  a  month,  you  would  have 
no  show  for  help  here." 

"Are  you  sure,  Bo'son,  that  I  have  no  chance  of  hav 
ing  Mrs.  Waters  and  Lizzie?  It  would  be  such  a  saving." 

"  You  have  no  more  chance  of  having  them,  Mr.  Hard- 
grampers,  than  you  have  of  being  struck  with  lightning." 

"  Then  I  may  as  well  go  and  get  AnnaMoores;  she  will 
help  me." 

"  Yes,  you  may  as  well  go."      And  he  did  go. 

Captain  Waters  was  in  a  small  room  of  the  shop,  and 
there,  unknown  to  the  Bo'son,  having  entered  it 
through  a  side  door,  he  heard  all  the  conversation 
between  the  Bo'son  and  Amos  Hardengrip.  When  Hard- 
engrip  left,  the  Captain  appeared  in  the  shop,  and  in  a 
serious  manner  asked  the  Bo'son  why  he  declined  helping 
him. 

"  He  is  not  worth  helping,  sir  ;  he  is  too  mean  to  live, 
and  the  only  man  about  here  the  Bo'son  wouldn't  like  to 
help." 

"  Bo'son,  as  a  Christian  and  a  good  citizen,  you  should 
be  charitable  to  all,  and  do  good  whenever  you  have  an 
opportunity." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  245 

"  If  a  man  is  in  distress,  and  has  his  colors  half-mast, 
or  is  overboard  and  wants  help,  the  Bo'son  and  his  dog 
will  be  on  hand  ;  but  when  a  chap  like  that,  who  would 
squeeze  a  half  dollar  until  he  made  the  eagle  on  it  scream, 
and  who  would  pocket  the  cents  from  a  dead  father's 
eyes,  wants  the  Bo'son,  he  can't  get  him  in  tow." 

"  I  don't  blame  you,  Bo'son.  The  man  has  property, 
but  it  is  of  no  good  to  him,  or  any  one  else." 

Hardengrip,  as  he  proposed  when  he  left  the  Bo'son, 
went  directly  to  the  house  of  farmer  Moores,  to  arrange 
with  Anna.  He  found  Anna  in  the  kitchen,  engaged 
about  as  when  Ruth  Goodwin  made  her  a  visit. 

"  Mrs.  Moores,  I  want  you  to  come  to  my  house  and  as 
sist  me,  to-morrow;  I  am  going  to  kill  hogs.  Can  you 
come  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  little  difficult,  Amos,  but  thee  being  alone,  I 
can't  refuse.  Will  there  be  other  help  in  the  house  ?  " 

"  Yes;  two  Irish  women  to  do  the  heavy  work  ;  but  I 
want  you  to  take  charge  of  everything.  I  want  you  to 
come  early  and  make  some  bread  and  pies  for  dinner  and 
supper,  as  there  will  be  seven  or  eight  men  to  eat ;  and 
people  when  they  go  out  always  eat  twice  as  much  as  they 
do  when  at  home." 

"  I  will  be  there,  Amos  ;  thee  can  depend  on  me." 

"  Will  you  go  by  the  way  of  the  store  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  stop  and  get  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  pepper;  I  am 
nearly  out,  and  it  will  be  needed." 

"  I  will  remember  it,  Amos ;  and  be  there  bright  and 
early." 

Anna  fixed  herself  and  children, — her  way  of  fixing, — 
and  prepared  to  leave  home  for  a  day.  She  was  in  fuller 
dress  "than  on  the  day  that  Ruth  Goodwin  made  her  a 
visit.  She  wore  a  brown  worsted  dress,  made  to  button 
at  the  back,  but  she  reversed  the  sides,  because  it  was 
easier  to  button  it  in  front.  It  didn't  fit  very  well,  but 
answered  the  purpose  just  the  same.  She  wore  shoes  that 
laced  up,  but  the  tops  of  the  blue  yarn  stockings, — as 
usual  with  Anna, — were  not  in  their  places. 

When  nearly  ready  to  leave  home,  she  filled  her  large 


246  CAPTAIN   WATERS 

box  with  snuff,  and  debated  with  herself  whether  it  was 
best  to  take  a  tow-apron  which  she  had  used,  or  a  clean 
one.  Anna  finally  decided  that  the  work  would  be  dirty, 
and  she  might  just  as  well  take  the  apron  that  had  been 
used,  as  the  clean  one. 

Anna  stopped  at  the  store  for  the  pepper,  and  thinking 
it  might  be  late  before  she  returned  home,  and  that  she 
might  possibly  get  out  of  snuff,  got  a  quarter  of  a  pound 
of  that  also,  and  put  them  both  in  her  pocket. 

Anna  reached  the  house  of  Hardengrip,  and  declared 
that  she  was  ready  for  the  day. 

"  Anna,  I  want  you  should  be  very  careful  that  nothing 
is  wasted.  Everything  costs  money,  and  money  is  hard 
to  get,  and  hard  to  keep.  Make  only  two  pies  for  dinner, 
and  cut  them  in  as  many  pieces  as  there  are  persons  to 
eat ;  and  make  some  very  plain  ginger-bread  for  supper, 
and  be  sure  and  not  put  too  much  shortening  in  it,  or 
in  the  pie-crust.  Put  no  butter  on  the  table  for  dinner, 
for  we  shall  have  good  gravy  with  the  fried  inwards.' 

"  I'll  attend  to  it  all,  Amos,"  was  Anna's  reply. 

Anna  was  pleased  with  the  appearance  of  things  in  th& 
kitchen,  saying  to  the  women  that  were  with  her : 

"  Everything  is  handy  here;  one  don't  have  to  go  from 
kitchen  to  closet  for  what  is  wanted  to  use,  and  it  saves 
a  great  many  steps.  If  we  drop  a  little  grease,  or  spill  a 
little  dirty  water  on  the  floor,  it  '11  never  show.  I  don't 
like  these  kitchens  that  are  so  nice  you  are  afraid  to  dirty 
them.  Every  place  should  be  just  fit  for  the  use  made 
of  it." 

Anna  put  on  the  tow-apron,  took  snuff,  used  the  apron 
to  wipe  her  fingers  and  nose,  and  then  commenced  mak 
ing  bread,  cake,  and  pies.  The  hogs  were  killed,  and 
portions  brought  into  the  kitchen,  to  prepare  for  sausage 
cases  and  sausage  meat.  Anna  took  snuff,  used  the 
apron,  and  kept  to  work  on  her  pastry.  The  other  wo 
men  prepared  the  sausage  cases  and  meat.  Pepper  was 
wanted.  Anna  emptied  what  she  had  brought  from  the 
store  into  a  large  tin  pepper-box,  gave  it  to  one  of  the 
women,  to  season  the  sausage-meat,  took  snuff,  used  the 
apron,  and  continued  the  bread  and  cake  business. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO1  SON.  247 

When  dinner  was  about  ready,  Anna  had  worked  so 
hard  at  the  baking  business,  and  been  so  often  inter 
rupted,  each  time  having  to  take  snuff,  that  her  box  was 
empty.  She  filled  it  from  the  paper  in  her  pocket,  took 
a  pinch,  threw  back  her  head,  snorting  and  sneezing, 
without  being  able  for  an  instant  to  stop,  or  have  any 
control  over  herself. 

Anna  had  put  the  snuff  into  the  pepper-box,  and  nearly 
the  whole  of  it  had  been  used  on  the  sausage-meat  and  hogs' 
inwards,  frying  on  the  stove  for  dinner,  and  had  filled  her 
own  box  with  pepper,  and  taken  a  full  pinch  of  it. 

The  commotion  in  the  kitchen  called  Hardengrip  there, 
and  when  he  found  what  had  taken  place,  he  was  very 
wrathy.  "Ten  dollars  worth  of  meat  'spiled'  with 
snuff."  He  called  Anna  hard  names,  ordered  her  out  of 
his  house,  and  told  her  if  she  didn't  hurry  about  it,  he 
would  kick  her  out. 

The  Bo'son  was  passing  along  the  road  near  the  house, 
the  dog  a  little  ahead  of  him,  when  Bose  looked  back  at 
his  master,  gave  one  bark,  leaped  the  fence,  and  went  into 
the  house.  The  Bo'son  understood  the  dog,  and  quickly 
followed  him.  When  Bill  Thomas  reached  the  kitchen, 
the  dog  had  Hardengrip  by  the  back  of  his  trousers, 
holding  him  from  going-  any  nearer  to  Anna  Moores. 
The  Bo'son  soon  learned  what  the  difficulty  was,  and  that 
Hardengrip  had  much  abused  Anna.  He  told  the 
dog  to  give  him  a  good  shake,  and  let  him  go.  The 
dog  obeyed. 

Soon  as  Anna  found  that  she  had  some  one  besides 
herself  to  depend  on,  she  said  : 

"  I'll  tell  my  husband  what  thee  has  said  to  me,  and  he 
will  come  over  here,  and  horse-whip  thee." 

"  He  needn't  take  that  trouble,  for  I  would  just  like  no 
better  fun  than  to  ropes-end  him  on  the  spot,"  said  the 
Bo'son,  at  the  same  time  taking  from  his  pocket  half  a 
fathom  of  "  eighteen-thread  rattling  stuff." 

"  You  can't  touch  my  father  to  hurt  him  while  I  am 
here." 

*'  Young  man,  I  am  sorry  you  have  such  a  father  ; 
but  I  can't  help  it.  Bose  .and  I  are  good  against  any 


248  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

number  of  people  who  call  themselves  men,  and  stand 
by  and  see  a  lone  woman  abused,  by  such  a  chap  as  that." 

The  Bo'son  took  off  his  jacket,  and  what  the  result 
would  have  been  is  difficult  to  tell,  but  one  of  the  men 
seeing  Captain  Waters  riding  by,  called  him  in. 

"  Bo'son,  what  is  the  matter,  and  what  has  so  excited 
you?  This  is  unusual." 

"  This  lady  made  a  little  mistake,  sir,  and  they  put  snuff 
in  the  '  sasages;'  and  then  because  the  lady  couldn't  take 
pepper  for  snuff,  old  skinflint  was  going  to  kick  her  out 
of  the  house.  The  dog  got  on  deck  before  I  did,  fas 
tened  to  him  aft,  and  spiked  his  guns.  The  lady  wa$ 
going  to  send  her  husband  to  horse- whip  him  for  calling 
her  bad  names,  and  I  thought  I  would  save  her  the  trouble 
by  using  this  on  his  shoulders,"  showing  the  rattling 
stuff. 

"  Bo'son,  you  are  wrong  for  once." 

"  For  taking  a  lady's  part  when  she  was  being  abused  ?" 

"  No,  not  for  that,  but  for  offering  to  whip  such  a  man 
as  Mr.  Hardengrip." 

"  He  deserved  it,  sir ;  but  if  you  say  I  was  wrong,  I 
will  beg  his  pardon." 

"  Captain  Waters,  there  is  ten  dollars  worth  of  meat 
*  spiled '  with  snuff,  and  another  dinner  to  be  provided, 
all  at  my  cost.  I  knew  I  should  miss  Betsy  at  this  time. 
Her  death  has  cost  me  twelve  or  fifteen  dollars  this  day. 
Why  couldn't  she  consent  to  live  until  after  killing-time, 
and  then  she  might  have  died  in  welcome." 

"  Neighbor  Hardengrip,  accidents  will  happen  in  all 
families,  so  make  the  best  of  it.  That  is  the  way  to  get 
along  smoothly,"  was  the  Captain's  reply. 

Anna  emptied  the  pepper  from  her  box,  and  found  there 
was  some  snuff  left  in  the  pepper-box;  she  took  a  large 
pinch,  used  her  apron,  and  left  the  house. 

The  Captain,  Bo'son  and  dog  soon  followed  her 
example.  What  Hardengrip  did  with  his  well-snuffed 
sausage-meat,  who  cooked  his  next  dinner,  and  how 
many  nights  he  laid  awake  bemoaning  his  loss,  must 
remain  unknown  to  the  world,  for  he  was  alone,  and  has 
left  no  record  of  it- 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  24p 

CHAPTER  L. 

THE   BO'SON    TELLS   A    WHALING   STORY. 

Bo'son  and  his  dog  were  known  for  miles  around 
1  the  Waters'  Snug  Harbor,  and  wherever  they  went, 
they  were  welcome  visitors.  Bill  Thomas  spent  some  of 
the  long,  pleasant  winter  evenings  at  the  different  farm 
houses  in  the  neighborhood,  and  interested  the  people 
living  in  them,  with  a  history  of  the  countries  he  had 
visited,  and  the  manners  and  customs  of  people  in  foreign 
parts.  He  also  related  his  adventures,  and  what  he  ha</ 
witnessed  when  engaged  in  the  whaling  business.  Tha 
farm-house  of  Welcome  Goodwin  was  visited  more  fre 
quently  than  that  of  any  of  the  other  houses,  because 
there  the  Bo'son  felt  more  freedom,  and  more  at  home. 

Mr.  Goodwin  was  the  first  of  the  neighbors  who  visited 
the  Bo'son,  and  the  first  to  invite  him  to  his  house.  In 
that  family  Bill  Thomas  was  always  welcome,  and  his 
narratives  listened  to  with  attention,  and  full  credit  given 
to  them. 

The  Bo'son  never  told  a  tale  unless  invited  to  do  so, 
and  one  evening,  when  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Goodwin,  that 
friend  asked  Bill  to  give  them  an  account  of  the  death 
by  drowning  of  his  shipmate  when  on  a  whaling  voyage. 

THE   BO'SON 'S    STORY. 

"  In  June,  1823, 1  sailed  in  the  ship  '  Phebe  Ann,'  from 
New  Bedford,  bound  to  the  coast  of  Brazil,  on  a  whaling 
voyage.  The  ship  was  owned  by  Samuel  Rodman,  and 
fitted  out  by  Captain  David  Coffin,  as  agent.  The  '  Phebe 
Ann '  was  a  small  ship,  only  two  hundred  and  twenty 
tons  burthen,  but  for  her  size  well  adapted  to  the  whaling 
business,  being  a  '  weatherly  '  ship  and  a  fast  sailer. 

"  The  officers  of  the  ship  were  :  Charles  Rawson,  masi 
ter;  Charles  Barnard,  first  mate;  Peleg  Ray,  second  mate; 
William  Barker,  third  mate;  Benjamin  F.  Gardner  anq 
Thomas  Barnard,  boat-steerers, — all  belonging  to  Nan- 
tuckett  excepting  Mr.  Barker.  His  home  was  at  Newport, 


,50  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

R.  I.  The  crew  consisted  of  William  Gary,  Zebulon 
Morslander,  Paul  B.  Macy,  Alfred  Swain,  Daniel  Hussey, 
Henry  Gardner,  Charles  Pitts,  Edward  P.  Coffin,  John 
Boss,  Charles  F.  Swain,  and  the  ship's  cooper,  whose 
name  is  not  remembered, — all  white  men,  and  all  belong 
ing  to  Nantucket,  excepting  John  Boss  and  the  cooper. 
Boss  belonged  to  Newport,  but  had  lived  some  years  on 
the  Island  of  Nantucket,  and  there  learned  a  cooper's 
trade.  The  cook  and  steward  were  colored  men,  and 
two  natives  of  the  Sandwich  Islands  completed  the 
whole  crew  of  twenty-one  men.  All  of  the  men  before 
the  mast,  who  belonged  to  Nantucket,  were  on  their 
first  voyage  to  sea,  excepting  Morslander  and  Gary.  The 
oldest  of  the  green  hands  was  not  twenty-one  years  old, — 
the  youngest  only  sixteen.  They  had  been  playmates 
/tnd  schoolmates  from  early  boyhood. 

"After  sailing  from  New  Bedford,  and  the  young  men 
had  recovered  from  their  sea-sickness,  we  had  a  pleasant, 
but  rather  long  passage  of  four  weeks,  to  the  Western 
Islands  (Azores),  where  we  recruited  the  ship  with  po 
tatoes,  onions,  apples  and  hogs. 

"  Leaving  the  Azores,  we  passed  near  some  of  the  Cape 
de  Verd  Islands,  and  shaped  our  course  for  the  whaling 
ground  of  Brazil. 

"  Near  the  island  of  Trinidad,  in  latitude  twenty,  south, 
just  at  sunset,  we  sighted  a  large  sperm  whale.  The 
chip  was  under  full  sail,  with  studden-sails  out  '  alow  and 
aloft,'  the  wind  being  light  and  well  aft.  The  ship  was 
'brought  to  the  wind,'  the  studden-sails  hauled  in  on 
deck,  'courses'  hauled  up,  main-top-sail  'aback,'  and 
the  larboard  and  waist-boats  lowered ;  the  captain  stop 
ping  on  board  to  take  care  of  the  light  sails  and  the 
ship. 

"The  whale  was  'close  aboard.'  Mr.  Bainard,  the 
mate,  went  in  the  head,  instead  of  the  stern  of  his  boat, 
and  by  the  time  he  could  get  his  harpoons  up  and  line 
bent,  Gardner,  the  boat-steerer,  had  carried  him  along 
side  of  the  whale ;  he  threw  both  irons  well  in,  and  the 
whale,  in  her  first  motions  after  being  struck,  filled  the 
boat  half  full  of  water ;  then  sounded,  taking  out  about 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  35 1 

fifty  fathoms  of  line,  and  coming  again  to  the  surface 
to  spout.  Mr.  Ray  pulled  up  and  put  two  irons  into  the 
whale,  but  before  Mr.  Barnard  could  get  in  his  fifty 
fathoms  of  line,  the  whale  sounded  again,  and  supposing 
it  was  going  to  be  a  deep  sound,  Mr.  Barnard  directed 
Mr.  Ray  to  cut  his  line,  in  order  to  bend  the  two  lines  to 
gether.  The  whale  took  out  only  about  one  hundred 
fathoms  of  line,  and  in  some  way  the  line  got  in  the 
whale's  mouth,  and  the  whale  bit  it  off.  It  was  dark, 
and  there  was  no  chance  to  strike  the  whale  again,  and 
we  lost  her. 

"  Two  of  Mr.  Barnard's  boat's  crew,  and  four  of  Mr. 
Ray's,  were  green  hands.  It  was  the  first  time  they  had 
been  alongside  of  a  whale,  but  they  showed  no  white 
feathers." 

"Bo'son,"  asked  Mr.  Goodwin,  "how  many  fathoms  of 
line  are  taken  in  a  whale-boat,  and  how  is  it  carried  ?  " 

"  One  hundred  and  eighty  fathoms,  sir ;  and  it  is 
coiled  in  a  tub,  sitting  between  the  after  and  second 
thwarts." 

"  What  is  the  size  of  the  line,  Bo'son  ?  " 

"  It  is  about  the  size  of  a  man's  second  finger.  At 
that  time,  whale-line  was  made  only  of  the  finest  of  Rus 
sia  hemp,  selected  for  the  purpose,  and  so  manufactured 
as  to  be  always  limber.  Now,  whale-line  is  also  made 
from  manilla  hemp  and  cotton." 

"  Go  on,  Bo'son,  with  thy  story,  if  thee  pleases ;  for  we 
are  all  interested  in  it." 

"  Had  Captain  Rawson  been  able  to  lower  his  boat 
with  the  other  two,  Mr.  Ray  would  not  have  had  to  cut 
his  line,  and  we  might  have  saved  the  whale.  A  whale 
seldom  takes  more  than  two  lines  (three  hundred  and 
sixty  fathoms)  out,  in  sounding,  though  sometimes  three 
lines  are  put  together,  making  five  hundred  and  forty 
fathoms.  Whalemen  think,  that  when  a  whale  takes  out 
two  lines  going  down,  she  will  take  the  most  of  the  third 
line,  by  sagging  of  the  bight,  when  coming  up;  for  a 
whale  does  not  go  straight  down,  nor  come  straight  up." 

"  How  long,  Bo'son,  can  a  whale  stay  under  water  ?  " 

"  A  large  sperm  whale,  when  not  disturbed,  will  remain 


2S2  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

under  water  one  hour  and  a  half,  and  then  stay  up  the 
same  length  of  time,  spouting  once  a  minute, — ninety 
times.  If  such  a  whale  is  disturbed,  after  being  up  half 
an  hour,  and  goes  down,  it  will  not  remain  down  more 
than  half  an  hour.  Other  than  sperm  whales  are  up  and 
down,  from  twenty  minutes  to  half  an  hour  each  time, 
when  not  chased  nor  disturbed." 

"  Bo'son,  thou  hast  given  us  more  information  about 
whales  and  their  habits,  than  we  have  heretofore  had  op 
portunities  of  acquiring,  and  we  shall  all  continue  to  lis 
ten,  receiving  much  instruction  from  thee.  Thou  canst 
proceed  at  thy  pleasure,  and  I  will  endeavor  not  to  inter 
rupt  thee  again  with  questions,  though  that  is  the  only 
way  to  fully  comprehend  a  subject  matter  which  is  being 
spoken  of  by  one  fully  understanding  it." 

The  Bo'son  continued  : 

"When  we  first  got  on  whaling  ground,  we  had  hard  luck 
in  having  our  boats  stoven,  and  the  captain  injured  by  a 
whale  ;  so  that  he  was  unable  to  go  in  his  boat  for  three 
months.  The  ship  was  run  into,  on  a  foggy  night,  by  the 
ship  '  Thorn,'  Captain  Post,  of  Sag  Harbor,  and  by  that 
accident  we  lost  two  boats,  and  all  the  cranes  and  davits 
on  the  starboard  side.  A  short  time  after  that,  we  lost  the 
mate's  boat  in  a  gale  of  wind,  with  the  cranes  and  davits 
used  for  that  boat. 

"  The  twelfth  day  of  January,  in  the  year  eighteen  hun 
dred  and  twenty-four,  will  never  be  forgotten,  while  there 
is  one  man  living  who  was  on  board  of  the  ship  Thebe 
Ann  '  on  that  voyage.  It  was  a  dark,  .cloudy  day,  the 
wind  blowing  fresh  from  the  northeast,  causing  a  rough 
sea.  We  had  whale  on  board,  and  were  '  boiling,' — the 
ship  under  easy  sail. 

"  Immediately  after  breakfast,  whales  were  seen  near 
the  ship,  and  the  two  quarter  boats  were  lowered,  headed 
by  Mr.  Barnard  and  Mr.  Barker, — first  and  third  mates. 
The  crew  of  the  starboard-boat,  headed  by  Mr.  Barker, 
consisted  of  William  Gary,  boat-stcerer  ;  Paul  B.  Macy, 
at  the  bow ;  Jock,  a  Kanaka,  at  the  midship  ;  Daniel 
Hussey  at  the  tub,  or  second  ;  and  Charles  Pitts  at  the 
after  oar. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  2^ 

"  The  whales  came  up  nearest  to  Mr.  Barker's  boat;  he 
went  alongside  of  one,  called  the  harponeers-man  up,  and 
before  Gary  could  throw  his  harpoon,  the  whale  struck  the 
boat,  knocking  Mr.  Barker  overboard.  Mr.  Barker,  sup 
posing  that  Gary  had  fastened  to  the  whale,  held  on  the 
steering  oar,  till  the  whale  struck  the  boat  again,  cutting 
her  in  two  pieces.  The  whale  went  a  short  distance, 
'milled'  around,  and  attacked  the  boat  a  third  time, 
knocking  her  into  small  pieces,  and  leaving  only  the  bow 
with  one  thwart,  and  a  little  piece  of  the  stern. 

"  The  mate's  boat  was  only  a  short  distance  from  the 
one  that  had  been  stoven.  Mr.  Barnard  and  his  crew  saw 
what  had  taken  place.  The  boat  was  headed  for  the 
wreck,  and  the  mate  called  on  his  crew  to  'pull  for  life.' 

"  They  had  often,  at  his  call,  sprung  to  their  oars  when 
after  a  whale,  but  were  now  pulling  for  life,  and  at  every 
stroke  the  boat  seemed  to  be  lifted  from  the  water,  and 
sent  ahead  with  the  speed  of  a  race-horse. 

"The  men  were  picked  up  as  fast  as  they  could  be 
reached,  Gary  being  the  last  man  taken  into  the  boat. 
The  bow  of  the  stoven  boat  had  'righted,'  and  Gary  had 
swam  to  it,  and  taking  the  place  where  he  was  standing 
when  the  boat  was  first  struck  by  the  whale. 

"The  men  were  counted,  and  only  five  out  of  six  were  in 
the  boat.  The  names  of  the  crew  were  quickly  called, 
in  the  order  in  which  they  had  been  seated  in  the  boat ; 
and  when  the  officer  called  the  tub-oar,  Daniel  Hussey 
was  missing. 

"  All  eyes  were  turned  again  among  the  floating  pieces 
of  the  stoven  boat,  but  he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  Mr. 
Barnard  remained  on  the  spot  until  there  was  no  longer 
any  chance  of  finding  him,  and  then  headed  for  the  ship, 
the  men  pulling  long,  slow  strokes. 

"  When  the  boat  was  near  enough  to  hail,  the  captain 
through  his  trumpet,  asked  : 

"  *  Is  anyone  hurt  ? '  and  no  answer  was  give.  He  re 
peated  it,  and  Mr.  Barnard  answered  : 

"'Hussey  is  lost.' 

"  The  captain  said  :  '  Come  alongside.' 

"  The  crew  of  the  stoven  boat  were  taken  on  board,  and 


,54  CAPTA1S  WATEKS 

«he  mate  returned  to  the  wreck,  picked  up  the  oars,  boat 
and  lantern-kegs,  line-tub  and  boat-bucket,  and  towed 
the  largest  piece  of  the  stoven  boat  to  the  ship.  It  was 
taken  on  board,  and  given  to  the  cook  for  kindling  wood; 
the  mate's  boat  was  hoisted  up,  and  no  more  bouts  were 
put  in  the  water  that  day. 

"  Having  whale  on  board,  and  boiling,  every  man  had 
his  station,  and  knew  his  duty.  The  ship's  duty  was  car 
ried  on  during  the  day,  almost  in  silence.  In  one  watch 
there  was  one  station  without  a  man  to  fill  it.  Death  had 
made  it  vacant. 

'*  Our  little  band  of  sailor  brotherhood  was  broken,  our 
shipmate  had  died,  and  while  dying  was  buried  deep 
down  in  the  ocean,  where  the  resting  place  of  his  re 
mains  could  not  be  marked.  Fifteen  minutes  after  taking 
breakfast  with  the  crew,  sitting  on  the  same  chest,  and 
dividing  with  me  a  portion  of  his  meat,  he  was  in  an 
ocean  grave.  His  shipmates,  who  had  grown  up  with 
him  from  boyhood,  felt  his  loss  more  keenly  than  the  Bo'- 
son,  who  had  known  him  only  for  the  voyage,  and  the 
sad  impressions  made  on  my  mind  that  day,  and  the  fol 
lowing  night,  will  never  fade  entirely  away.  It  was  with 
me,  as  with  them,  the  first  death  witnessed  at  sea. 

"  Before  returning  home,  we  visited  St.  Catherines,  on 
the  coast  of  Brazil.  On  our  arrival  at  that  port,  we  found 
the  ship  Improvement  at  anchor  in  the  harbor.  On  board 
of  that  ship  Daniel  Hussey  had  a  brother,  who  immedi 
ately  came  along  side  of  our  ship  to  see  Daniel.  Judge, 
Mr.  Goodwin,  if  you  can,  the  feelings  of  the  brother.  In 
a  strange  land,  far  from  home  and  friends,  expecting  to 
meet  a  brother,  he  heard  only  of  his  death.  The  iron-nerved 
and  hardy  seaman  was  softened  and  subdued  by  affec 
tion  and  sorrow,  and  sympathized  with,  by  all  the  ship 
mates  of  Daniel  Hussey." 

Here  the  Bo'son  wiped  a  moisture  from  his  own  eyes, 
and  Ruth  Goodwin  asked  : 

"  Bo'son,  had  Daniel  Hussey  a  mother  and  sisters  liv 
ing  at  that  time  ?  " 

"Yes,  Mrs.  Goodwin;  he  had  father,  mother,  brothers, 
and  sisters.  They  all  belonged  to  the  same  society  that 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON, 


255 


yon  do,  and  were  esteemed  members  of  it.  I  talked  with 
his  father  after  arriving  home,  and  gave  him  a  full  account 
of  the  sad  affair,  softened  only  by  telling  how  well  his 
son  had  conducted  himself  as  a  seaman,  and  how  high 
he  ranked  in  the  brotherhood  of  his  shipmates." 

"  Thou  wert  then  a  young  man,  Bo'son,"  observed  Wel 
come  Goodwin. 

"  Yes,  sir.  That  was  over  thirty  years  ago ;  but  all  the 
circumstances  are  as  fresh  in  my  memory  as  though  it  oc 
curred  only  yesterday.  I  can  see  before  me  even  now  the 
sad  faces  of  the  captain,  officers,  and  all  the  crew,  as 
they  stood  around  the  deck  of  the  Phebe  Ann,  after  the 
death  of  Daniel  Hussey." 

"  Bo'son,  we  are  all  obliged  to  thee  for  thy  story ;  though 
a  sad  one,  it  is  full  of  instruction  to  the  living,  to  be  al 
ways  ready,"  said  Mr.  Goodwin,  and  the  Bo'son  left  for 
his  home. 


NOTE. — There  is  not  a  word  of  romance  nor  fiction  in  the  Bo'son  "s 
last  story.  Every  word  is  true,  every  date  correct,  and  every  name 
genuine.  The  writer  was  one  of  the  crew  of  the  "  Phebe  Ann,"  and 
at  the  loss  of  Daniel  Hussey  pulled  the  after-oar  in  the  mate's  boat, 
and  assisted  in  saving  those  of  the  stoven  boat  who  were  saved. 

As  a  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  departed,  and  one 
of  esteem  for  the  living,  composing  the  crew  of  the  "  Phebe  Ann  " 
on  that  voyage,  the  story  is  given  as  one  of  the  Bo'son's,  and  in  that 
character  is  not  out  of  place  in  the  book. 

My  shipmates,  now  living,  I  trust  will  not  think  unkindly  of  me 
for  placing  their  names  before  the  public  without  permission,  for 
could  I  here  give  a  full  history  of  their  lives  and  acts,  they  would 
lose  nothing  in  the  good  opinion  of  the  world.  The  surviving  rela 
tives  and  friends  of  Daniel  Hussey  can  attribute  no  motive  to  the 
writer,  in  giving  an  account  of  his  death,  which  occurred  nearly  fifty- 
four  years  ago,  but  to  preserve  in  his  own,  and  refresh  in  others,  the 
memory  of  a  loved  and  lost  shipmate. 

At  the  present  time  (December,  1876),  nearly  fifty-four  years  after 
the  sailing  of  the  ship  on  that  voyage,  there  are  living  eight  of  the 
seventeen  white  men  comprising  the  crew, — a  remarkable  circum 
stance.  There  are  also  living  three  of  the  crew  of  Mr.  Barnard's 
boat,  and  one  of  those  picked  up  from  the  stoven  boat  at  the  drown 
ing  of  Hussey.  Paul  B.  Macy,  one  of  the  crew  of  the  stoven  boat, 
died  December  24th,  1874,  and  the  writer  was  a  pall-bearer  at  his 
funeral,  fifty-one  years  after  he  was  one  of  a  boat's  crew,  that  res- 
cued  him  from  drowning  in  the.  South  Atlantic  Ocean. — AUTHOR. 


256  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

CHAPTER   LI. 

THE    BO'SON    AND    HIS   SLEIGH. 

'THE  Bo'son  saw  and  thoroughly  examined  sleighs  of 
A  the  different  kinds  used  by  the  farmers,  and  con 
cluded  that  he  could  build  one,  and  make  some  improve 
ments  on  those  he  had  seen.  The  people  had  told  him 
about  the  fine  sleigh  rides  which  they  enjoyed  during  the 
winter,  and  that  the  first  snow  falling,  some  winters,  re 
mained  on  the  ground  until  spring.  Bill  determined  to 
build  and  have  a  sleigh  of  his  own.  He  had  a  plenty  of 
good  timber,  brought  with  him  from  the  ship,  and  he  set 
about  it. 

He  had  assisted  in  steaming  and  bending  planks  to  dif 
ferent  portions  of  a  ship's  bottom,  and  of  timbers  for 
boats,  and  well  understood  the  process.  He  got  the  run 
ners  out  of  Delaware  white-oak,  split  one  end  of  them  in 
two  places  with  a  saw,  steamed  and  bent  them  to  their 
proper  form,  and  bolted  together  the  parts  split,  so  that 
they  would  hold  their  shape. 

Before  building  the  sleigh,  he  made  a  model  of  it,  so  as 
to  know,  as  he  said,  "  when  the  keel  was  laid,  what  the 
craft  was  to  be  when  built  and  launched." 

Bill  wanted  what  he  called  a  "  top-gallant  forecastle," 
under  which  he  could  "stow  cargo  to  trim  ship,"  and  on 
which  "  he  could  stand  and  give  directions  when  running 
through  a  narrow  passage." 

Immediately  back  of  the  dash-board,  which  was  so  con 
structed  and  arranged  as  to  prevent  the  possibility  of 
snow  or  splash  being  thrown  from  the  horse's  feet  into  the 
sleigh,  he  constructed  his  top-gallant  forecastle,  by  raising 
it  one  foot  above  the  bottom  of  the  sleigh,  with  sides  nine 
inches  above  that,  reaching  nearly  to  the  front  of  the 
sleigh  body  proper,  and  then  extending  in  a  curved  form 
to  the  top  of  the  sleigh.  This  top-gallant  forecastle  was 
built  entirely  separate  from  the  body  of  the  sleigh,  with 
a  back  of  its  own.  Under  it  could  be  safely  put  away, 
whatever  small  articles  were  carried,  and  on  it  the  BO'SOD 
could  stand  and  drive  when  the  sleigh  was  filled. 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  257 

The  body  of  the  sleigh  was  as  much  in  the  form  of  a 
ship  as  it  could  be,  and  answer  the  purpose  for  which  it 
was  to  be  used.  It  was  intended  to  carry  four  persons, — 
two  in  each  seat,  each  couple  facing  the  other, — but  often 
had  eight  in  the  sleigh,  and  one  on  the  forecastle,  with 
the  Bo'son.  Bill,  when  using  his  sleigh,  was  in  the  habit 
of  saying: 

"  The  amount  of  my  freight  depends  on  the  assortment 
of  my  cargo,  and  how  it  is  stowed." 

The  pole  and  whiffle-trees  were  made  of  seasoned 
hickory,  that  had  been  many  voyages  in  the  "  Neptune  " 
with  the  Bo'son. 

The  whole  structure  was  very  light  in  appearance,  but 
made  of  such  seasoned  timber,  and  so  ironed  and  braced 
in  every  part,  as  to  be  capable  of  carrying  a  heavy  load, 
without  being  strained  or  injured. 

The  painting  was  as  novel  as  the  sleigh  itself.  The 
running  portion  was  black,  then  a  red  streak  four  inches 
wide,  and  above  that  a  dark  brown  on  the  sides,  also  on 
the  top-gallant  forecastle.  The  back  of  the  sleigh  was  a 
bright  yellow,  the  inside  flesh  color.  On  the  back  of 
the  sleigh  was  painted  a  whaling  scene  of  two  boats 
chasing,  and  a  third  boat  fast  to  a  whale.  The  steward 
had  the  credit  of  painting  that,  but  whether  it  belonged 
to  him  or  not,  is  unknown,  as  the  painting  was  all  done 
in  the  private  room  of  the  shop.  The  Bo'son  placed 
sleigh-bells  of  different  sizes  and  tones  on  the  under  side 
of  the  pole,  in  such  a  manner  that  they  could  not  be  re 
moved. 

While  building  the  sleigh,  the  Bo'son  had  a  set  of  double 
harness,  silver  mounted,  made  at  the  village,  and  purchased 
two  strings  of  small  silver-plated  bells,  to  go  around  the 
horses  necks  ;  also  a  full  set  of  lined  and  trimmed  robes, 
to  be  used  with  the  sleigh. 

Bill  Thomas  would  have  purchased  horses,  but  the 
Captain  had  all  that  were  necessary,  and  during  the  win 
ter  assigned  one  pair  to  his  especial  use. 

Bill  was  well  supplied  with  money,  having  taken  a  con 
siderable  to  the  farm  with  him  ;  and  by  direction  of 
Captain  Waters,  the  steward  paid  the  men  monthly,  and 
money  had  been  accumulating  on  the  Bo'son's  hands. 


858  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

The  steward  was  not  only  the  Captain's  financial  agent, 
but  on  the  farm  acted  banker  for  Bill  and  Lizzie ;  having 
an  iron  safe,  where  he  could  securely  keep  money  and 
valuables. 

Having  a  large  supply  of  clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  all 
made  in  Europe,  he  had  no  use  for  money  on  the  farm, 
excepting  for  such  things  as  pleased  his  fancy,  and  his 
new  sleigh  was  his  first  lavish  expenditure. 

The  sleigh,  when  finished  and  painted,  was  as  much  of 
a  wonder  to  the  people,  as  the  Bo'son  and  his  dog  had 
been. 

By  constant  observation  and  practice,  Bill,  in  the  seven 
months  that  he  had  been  on  the  farm,  had  become  a  safe 
and  good  driver.  He  could  harness,  handle  and  drive  a 
pair  of  spirited  horses  with  the  best  horseman  around  the 
country,  though  he  met  with  many  mishaps  and  adven 
tures  in  that  line  in  his  early  experience  on  the  farm.  In 
the  business  of  driving,  as  in  all  other  matters,  the  Bo'son, 
by  patience  and  perseverance,  backed  by  good  nature, 
eventually  succeeded. 

When  the  sleigh  was  finished  and  ready  for  use,  it  was 
taken  out  of  the  shop  ("launched,"  as  the  owner  would 
have  it),  and  christened  the  "first  cutter;"  and  that 
name  was  lettered  on  both  sides  of  the  forecastle;  and  on 
the  back  of  the  sleigh,  in  gilt  letters  was  "  First  Cutter, 
Waters'  Snug  Harbor,"  in  two  lines.  The  name  above, 
and  the  port  "  hailing  from,"  under  it. 

A  light  fancy  cutter  was  called  the  "  Captain's  gig;  " 
the  family  sleigh,  bought  with  the  farm,  the  "long-boat; " 
the  farm  sled,  the  "  wood-barge." 

The  Bo'son  said  : 

"  It  is  necessary  to  name  all  the  boats,  and  then  they 
can  be  ordered  to  duty  without  having  the  wrong  one 
'  manned.'  " 

It  was  not  long  after  the  "  first  cutter  "was  "launched," 
that  there  was  a  fall  of  nine  or  ten  inches  of  snow,  falling 
without  being  disturbed  by  wind,  and  on  ground  hard 
ened  with  frost,  making  sleighing  good. 

The  "  first  cutter  "  was  got  ready  immediately  after 
breakfast.  The  Bo'son  had  cot  his  dark  brown  horses  in 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  259 

tine  condition,  and  with  the  new  harness  and  silver-plated 
bells  on,  and  hitched  before  the  cutter,  made  a  good  ap 
pearance. 

It  was  the  trial  trip,  and  Bill  wanted  the  old  crew,  with 
one  extra  hand  ;  and  so  invited  the  steward,  Lizzie  and 
Mr.  Harrowell,  the  farmer,  to  go  out  with  him  on  his  "first 
cruise." 

When  they  were  about  "  to  sail  "  out  of  the  yard,  Cap 
tain  and  Mrs.  Waters  went  on  the  piazza,  to  witness  the 
sight,  and  appeared  to  enjoy  it  and  be  as  much  gratified 
as  the  Bo'son  or  any  of  his  party. 

The  old  sea  captain  and  his  wife  loved  the  members 
of  their  family  who  were  in  the  sleigh,  as  though  they  had 
been  their  children,  and  did  more  for  their  comfort  and 
happiness  than  many  parents  do  for  their  children.  No 
child  ever  did  more  for  a  parent  than  either  of  the  three 
would  have  done  for  Captain  or  Mrs.  Waters.  Whatever 
pleased  the  "  family," — as  Bill,  Lizzie  and  the  steward 
were  always  called,  when  spoken  of  collectively, — always 
gratified  the  Captain  and  his  wife. 

It  was  a  glorious  sight,  the  new  sleigh,  harness,  silver 
bells,  and  fine  horses ;  the  Bo'son,  with  the  long  ribbons 
attached  to  his  tarpaulin-hat,  streaming  in  the  wind,  and 
he  standing  on  the  "  top-gallant  forecastle  "  of  his  sleigh, 
lines  and  whip  in  hand,  driving  out  of  the  gate  and  up 
the  road,  wearing  such  a  pleasant  and  satisfied  counte 
nance  ;  while  the  old  dog-  that  was  not  to  be  left  behind, 
was  cutting  all  kinds  of  antics,  rolling  and  tumbling  in 
the  snow,  running  alongside  of  the  sleigh,  and  joining  his 
cheerful  bark,  with  the  merry  tinkling  of  the  bells. 

The  Bo'son  drove  his  party  up  the  road  through  Shep 
herd  ville,  passed  the  old  Friends'  Meeting  and  school-house 
went  to  Quaker  Springs,  Coveville,  down  the  turnpike, 
and  home. 

It  was  such  a  turn-out  as  was  nevei  seen  in  that,  or  any 
other  part  of  the  country  before,  and  was  the  admiration 
of  all  who  saw  it.  Not  a  boy  belonging  to  the  District 
School,  no  matter  how  mischievous  he  might  have  been, 
would  have  presumed  to  throw  a  snow-ball  at  the  Bo'son's 
new  sleigh,  nor  at  the  party  in  it. 


260  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

After  returning,  the  Bo'son  looked  at  his  chronometer 
watch,  and  without  saying  where  he  was  going,  drove  out 
of  the  yard,  and  up  the  road.  He  drove  to  the  district 
school,  timeing  it  so  as  to  be  there  at  recess,  and  in  turn 
gave  all  the  boys  and  girls  a  ride  in  the  new  sleigh,  and 
so  becoming  a  general  favorite  with  the  children,  and  fur 
nishing  them  something  new  to  tell  when  they  went  home. 

Returning  home,  he  unhitched  and  unharnessed  hi? 
horses,  rubbed  them  dry,  put  their  blankets  on,  and  when 
they  had  stood  sufficiently  long  at  hay,  for  it  to  be  pru 
dent,  he  gave  them  grain  and  went  to  his  own  dinner. 

After  dinner,  he  invited  Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters 
to  "  take  a  sail  in  the  first  cutter."  The  invitation  was 
accepted,  and  the  Bo'son  drove  them  to  Stillwater  village, 
where  the  establishment  was  inspected  by  a  committee, 
composed  of  all  the  inhabitants  that  could  be  out  of 
doors,  and  pronounced  a  perfect  success,  that  should  be 
patented. 

When  first  introducing  the  Bo'son  to  our  readers,  we 
stated  that  personal  cleanliness  and  careful  dressing  were 
fixed  habits  of  his,  and  living  on  shore  had  not  weakened 
or  changed  them.  He  wore  a  dress  peculiar  to  his  early 
calling,  and  differing  from  that  worn  by  the  people  living 
around  him;  but  it  was  clean,  and  suited  to  his  character, 
and  proper  to  be  seen  in  the  best  society. 

The  Bo'son  and  his  sleigh  were  the  general  talk  of  the 
neighborhood,  and  no  parties  or  frolics  were  considered 
fashionable  unless  they  were  included  in  it.  There  was 
not  a  young  lady  for  miles  around  who  did  not  have  a 
ride  in  the  "  first  cutter." 

Bill  was  so  well  known,  and  his  character  so  well  estab 
lished,  that  parents  felt  safe  in  trusting  their  daughters  to 
him  and  his  cutter,  and  he  always  had  a  full  freight  when 
there  was  a  gathering  of  the  young  people,  and  in  such 
gatherings  Lizzie  was  generally  included,  she  also  being  a 
favorite  with  the  young. 

When  a  letter  was  received,  informing  the  family  that 
Susie  Morton  would  be  at  the  depot  on  a  certain  day,  the 
Bo'son  asked  the  honor  of  bringing  her  "  on  board  "  in 
the  "  first  cutter." 


AND  BfLL,  HIS  BO  'SON,  26 1 

It  was  arranged  that  the  Captain,  Mrs.  Waters,  and 
Lizzie  should  go  with  the  Bo'son  in  his  cutter  to  meet 
Susie,  and  take  her  to  the  farm.  The  dog,  of  course, 
made  one  of  the  party,  and  arrived  at  the  depot  a  little 
in  advance  of  the  cutter.  When  Bill  drove  up,  he  found 
Mr.  Morton,  Susie  and  the  dog  standing  together,  the  dog 
having  immediately  recognized  his  friends.  After  the 
usual  greetings,  Mr.  Morton  informed  them  that  business 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  return  to  the  city  without 
going  to  the  farm. 

Susie  looked  at  the  beautiful,  but  strangely  constructed 
sleigh,  and  asked  the  Bo'son  who  made  it. 

"  I  did,  morning-glory." 

"  What  strange  thing  will  you  do  next,  old  shell-back?" 

The  Bo'son  laughed,  knowing  Susie  had  applied  that 
name  to  him  in  return  for  his  calling  her  morning- 
glory,  and  that  she  had  learned  it  from  her  grandfather, 
and  said  it  in  sport.  He  whispered  the  answer  in  Susie's 
ear. 

"  Marry  Lizzie,  honeysuckle." 

"  It  will  be  the  wisest  and  best  thing  you  ever  did, 
though  you  have  done  many  wise  and  good  ones,"  was 
Susie's  reply. 

The  party  waited  at  the  station  until  the  train  arrived, 
going  south,  saw  Mr.  Morton  off,  and  then  drove  home. 


CHAPTER  LII. 

A  VISIT  TO  THE  FAMILY  OF  WELCOME  GOODWIN. 

OUSIE  Morton  was  a  desirable  acquisition  to  the  farm, 
^  and  also  to  the  neighborhood ;  and  the  remainder 
of  the  winter  was  passed  in  receiving  and  making  visits 
among  the  neighbors  and  friends. 

While  the  sleighing  lasted,  the  "  first  cutter,"  in  charge 
of  the  Bo'son,  was  constantly  in  use,  conveying  the  differ 
ent  members  of  the  family  around  in  making  their  visits, 
and  in  attending  on  all  the  parties  within  a  circle  of  many 
miles. 


a6a  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

So  pleasantly  did  the  winter  pass,  with  all  the  members 
of  the  family,  that  spring-time  came  before  they  seemed 
to  be  aware  that  it  was  coming  ;  but  notwithstanding  that, 
it  was  welcomed  by  them  all.  Who  can  remember  when 
spring  wasn't  welcome,  with  its  spirit-giving  air,  feathered 
songsters,  and  blooming  flowers  ?  Yes,  even  the  aged 
look  for  it,  and  greet  it,  as  do  the  young,  because  spring's 
balmly  breezes  and  warming  sun,  give  them  new  life  and 
increased  energy  ;  besides  bringing  back  to  them  the 
feelings  and  scenes  of  the  spring-time  of  their  own  lives. 
The  memory  of  the  past,  when  the  past  was  pleasant,  is 
ever  sweet,  and  the  longer  past,  the  sweeter  to  be  remem 
bered. 

The  coming  spring  had  brought  with  it  the  duties  of 
the  farm,  and  the  Bo'son  said  : 

"  We  must  bend  sails,  and  be  ready  to  leave  our  winter 
harbor." 

No  member  of  the  family  rejoiced  more  than  Susie 
Morton  did,  that  the  winter  had  passed,  and  spring 
had  come.  Susie  loved  the  open  air,  and  loved  to  exer 
cise  in  it ;  and  there  was  another  reason  which  gave  her 
cause  for  rejoicing, — George  Wilson  would  return  before 
the  spring  months  had  passed,  visit  the  farm  for  a  few 
days,  and  then  accompany  Susie  to  New  York. 

The  Bo'son  and  Susie  had  freely  talked  together  about 
the  future,  and  it  was  agreed,  when  George  and  Susie 
were  married,  that  at  the  same  time  the  Bo'son  and 
Lizzie  were  to  be  married,  though  such  an  event  as  the 
Bo'son  being  married  never  entered  the  minds  of  Captain 
nor  Mrs.  Waters ;  and  it  was  determined  to  keep  the  mat 
ter  a  secret  until  the  proper  time  came  to  divulge  it. 
Susie  and  Lizzie  had  talked  as  freely  with  each  other  as 
had  Susie  and  the  Bo'son,  so  there  was  a  perfect  under- 
derstanding  between  them  all. 

The  Bo'son  had  succeeded  in  acquiring  such  knowledge 
of  farming,  and  having  so  strong  a  desire  to  be  doing 
something  all  the  time,  that  he  was  as  useful  on  the  farm 
as  he  had  been  on  the  ship. 

All  in  good  time,  George  Wilson  arrived  at  New  York, 
and  a  few  days  later  made  a  visit  to  the  farm.  His  com- 


AND  BILL,  If  IS  BO' SON.  26l 

ing  was  expected,  and  a  warmer  or  more  sincere  welcome 
could  neither  be  bestowed  or  received.  Every  member 
of  the  family  greeted  him  so  heartily,  that  it  would  have 
been  difficult  to  have  told  who  rejoiced  the  most  at  his 
coming. 

Susie  had  promised  Welcome  and  Ruth  Goodwin,  that 
when  George  was  again  at  the  farm,  they  would  make 
them  a  visit  together.  Susie  was  an  equal  favorite  with 
the  Bo'son,  at  the  Goodwin  farm,  and  always  a  welcome 
visitor  in  the  family.  In  compliance  with  that  promise, 
Susie  invited  George  to  accompany  her  to  the  house  of 
Mr.  Goodwin. 

George  had  heard  so  much  from  Susie,  the  steward, 
and  Bo'son,  about  Welcome  Goodwin  and  family,  that  he 
felt  a  strong  wish  to  also  be  acquainted.  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Waters  had  frequently  spoken  in  such  favorable 
terms  of  the  Goodwin  family,  that  George  was  really 
anxious  to  see  and  know  them. 

When  the  Bo'son  drove  the  family  carriage  to  the  door 
of  the  Goodwin  farm-house,  the  good  Friend  and  his 
wife  gave  George  and  Susie  such  a  welcome,  as  pretended 
friends  never  give,  and  George  soon  felt  as  much  at  home 
as  he  would  have  done  at  the  house  of  Captain  Waters. 

No  language  can  fairly  deceive,  no  well  put  on  veil 
completely  cover,  a  cold  reception  of  the  heart.  If  the 
heart  is  in  rebellion  against  kind  words  spoken,  there  is  a 
tell-tale  in  the  eyes,  around  the  mouth,  or  on  the  brow  of 
the  speaker,  that  no  dissembler  can  hide  from  a  close  ob 
server.  Dissemblers  may  deceive  themselves  on  such  oc 
casions,  but  not  their  visitors. 

The  Bo'son  declined  an  invitation  to  have  the  horses 
put  up,  and  also  make  a  visit,  saying : 

"  I  am  wanted  at  the  harbor,  but  will  call  again  in  the 
evening,  to  take  Mr.  Wilson  and  Beauty  home." 

The  Goodwin  family  were  so  accustomed  to  hear  Bill 
Thomas  call  Susie  pet  names,  that  none  of  them  offered 
any  remark  on  that  occasion;  nor  did  Susie  herself  chide 
the  Bo'son,  as  it  seemed  to  come  natural  for  him  to  do  so. 

After  some  general  conversation,  in  which  all  were  en 
gaged,  the  good  man  of  the  house  said  : 


,C4  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  George,  thou  hast,  I  apprehend,  like  the  Bo'son,  visited 
many  parts  of  the  world,  seen  the  people  of  many  nations, 
observed  their  manners  and  customs,  and  gained  much 
valuable  information  of  a  very  different  kind  from  what 
is  within  the  compass  and  reach  of  a  plain  farming  com 
munity." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Goodwin,  that  may  in  part  be  true,  for 
though  still  a  very  young  man,  I  have  been  ten  years  sail 
ing  about  the  different  oceans  and  visiting  distant  ports; 
but  seamen  are  not  always  fortunate  enough  to  possess 
themselves  of  much  valuable  information,  that  isn't  con 
nected  with  their  calling." 

"  I  fully  comprehend  thee,  George,  that  the  duties  of 
the  ship  claim  and  receive  the  most  of  the  time  of  cap 
tain  and  officers,  when  in  foreign  ports." 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  to  know  a  country  and  people,  a  traveler 
must  go  inland.  At  seaports,  we  have  to  know  and  deal 
only  with  merchants,  and  they  do  not  always  reflect  the 
character  of  the  nation  under  whose  government  they  are 
doing  business." 

"  That  must  be  so,  George,  and  thou  hast  been  a  close 
observer  in  that  respect;  and  now  let  me  ask  thee  if  thou 
hast  ever  seen  a  living  king  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  have  seen  William  the  Fourth  of  England, 
Nicholas  of  Russia,  and  Dom  Pedro,  the  first  emperor  of 
Brazil." 

'  Seeing  them,  thou  wert  convinced  that  they  were  only 
men,  high  in  authority." 

"  Yes,  sir,  but  the  three  whom  I  have  seen  belong  to  the 
family  of  nature's  noblemen,  and  would  have  been  great 
men,  if  they  had  not  been  heirs  to  thrones.  William  was 
a  sailor  before  he  was  a  king,  and  though  the  son  of  one 
king,  and  brother  of  another,  he  served  with  distinction 
in  the  navy,  commencing  as  a  midshipman;  and  when 
called  to  reign  over  a  nation,  proved  a  wise  and  good 
king.  Russia  has  not  had  a  wiser  nor  a  better  emperor 
than  Nicholas.  Dom  Pedro  had  a  kingdom  and  an  em 
pire.  He  gave  the  kingdom  of  Portugal  to  his  daughter, 
Dona  Maria,  and  when  that  throne  was  usurped  by 
another,  he  bestowed  the  crown  of  Brazil  on  his  son, 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON  265 

went  to  Portugal,  placed  his  daughter  on  the  throne,  and 
there  lived  and  died  as  Duke  of  Braganza." 

"  Well,  well,  George,  thou  art  a  good  historian,  and 
must  have  found  much  time  to  read,  and  been  blessed 
with  a  good  memory.  Now  let  me  ask  thee  of  something 
thou  art  certainly  familiar  with.  I  have  heard  that, 
in  a  gale  of  wind  at  sea,  the  ocean  rolls  in  mountain  bil 
lows;  is  it  so?  " 

"  No,  sir,  and  such  descriptions  are  only  figurative.  In 
a  heavy,  steady  gale,  there  is  on  the  ocean  a  long,  rolling 
sea  that  '  combs '  and  breaks,  but  is  rarely  over  twenty 
feet  high,  and  seldom  that.  They  are  not  dangerous  to 
a  ship  which  is  properly  managed;  but  when  a  heavy  gale 
suddenly  shifts,  and  continues  to  blow,  there  comes  up  a 
cross  sea,  meeting  the  old  sea,  and  then  a  display  of  the 
best  seamanship  will  not  always  save  a  vessel  from  loss 
of  spars,  and  sometimes  of  the  craft  herself." 

"  Why  is  it,  then,  that  we  have  so  many  descriptions, 
and  from  different  persons,  of  such  mighty  rolling  moun 
tain  billows?  Canst  thou  tell  me  that,  George?" 

"  Those  descriptions  are  written  by  landsmen,  from  the 
representation  of  others,  or  from  having  seen  only  one 
gale,  and  that  when  sea-sick  and  well  frightened, — and 
what  did  not  exist,  was  furnished  by  the  imagination." 

"  I  can  now  understand  all  about  it;  but  we  are  having 
all  the  conversation  to  ourselves,  without  giving  the 
women  folks  an  opportunity  to  talk.  Thou,  too,  Susan, 
hast  been  to  sea." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  a  number  of  voyages  with  grandfather 
Waters,  and  the  Bo'son." 

"As  friend  Waters  has  given  up  his  ocean  life,  I  ap 
prehend  that  thou  hast  also  given  up  all  idea  of  going 
again  on  the  great  ocean  ? " 

Susie  had  her  suspicions  that  friend  Goodwin,  with  all 
his  plainness,  kindness  and  friendship,  could  relish  a  little 
joke,  and  she  was  correct  in  her  opinion,  and  answered 
by  saying : 

"  It  isn't  everyone  who  sails  the  ocean,  that  I  should 
have  sufficient  confidence  in,  to  trust  myself  at  sea  with." 

"  Shouldst  thee  meet  some  one  in  whom  thou  couldst 

12 


266  CAPTAIX  WATERS 

repose  the  same  confidence,  that  thou  reposest  in  thy 
grandfather,  and  he  should  invite  thee  to  make  a  voyage 
to  sea  with  him,  what  would  be  thy  answer  ?  " 

"  That,"  said  Susie,  laughing,  "  would  depend  on  a 
great  many  circumstances  ;  such  as  where  he  was  going, 
how  long  the  voyage  was  likely  to  be;  the  character  and 
disposition  of  the  man;  whether  I  liked  him,  or  not;  who 
was  his  first  mate;  and  if  he  was  going  to  take  the  Bo'son 
along." 

Before  Susie  had  finished  her  answer,  all  had  joined 
her  in  laughing,  and  the  Bo'son  appeared  at  the  door 
with  the  carriage.  He  went  in,  and  joined  the  happy 
circle,  and  remained  with  it  until  it  was  time  to  leave  for 
home. 

We  have  given  only  a  small  portion  of  the  conversa 
tion,  which  was  on  many  subjects,  and  all  united  in  it. 
Welcome  Goodwin  and  his  family  discovered  that  George 
Wilson  was  a  man  of  good  general  information,  possessing 
great  conversational  powers ;  and  George  was  charmed 
with  every  member  of  the  family,  and  especially  with 
Mrs.  Goodwin,  as  all  were,  who  enjoyed  an  acquaintance 
with  her. 

On  the  way  home, — as  was  very  natural, — the  pleasures 
of  the  afternoon  and  evening  were  talked  over,  and  when 
it  came  the  Bo'son's  turn  to  speak,  he  said  : 

"  Mr.  Wilson,  there  aren't  any  other  people  like  these 
Quakers,  and  the  Goodwin's  are  among  the  best  of  them. 
I  liked  that  man  the  first  time  I  saw  him,  and  I  like  him 
better  every  time  that  I  do  see  him.  He  is  all  truth  and 
goodness,  every  inch  of  him  ;  and  I  would  trust  him,  and 
put  as  much  confidence  in  him,  as  I  would  in  my  dog 
Bose, — and  that,  you  know,  is  a  great  deal." 

"  I  think  you  are  right,  Bo'son,"  said  George  and  Susie, 
at  the  same  time." 

"I  have  seen  many  men,  Mr.  Wilson,  who  pretended 
more,  but  were  less  than  Mr  Good  win  ;  and  I  have  heard 
him  preach  so  many  plain,  good  sermons,  that  I  believe  in 
the  doctrine  of  Quakerism,  and  wish  we  had  more  such 
men ;  and  here  we  are  at  home,  with  the  Captain  on  the 
look-out." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  267 

Captain  Waters  was  on  the  piazza.,  when  they  drove  into 
the  yard,  and  hailed  them  with  "  Sail  ho  !  what  ship  is 
that  ? " 

"'Neptune;'  Wilson,  of  New  York,"  answered  the 
Bo'son. 

"  Welcome  to  port,"  replied  the  Captain.  "Where  are 
you  from  ?  " 

"  Goodwin  Sound,"  again  answered  Bill  Thomas. 

"  Come  to  anchor,  and  furl  your  sails,"  said  the  Cap 
tain,  which  the  Bo'son  understood  was  to  unharness,  and 
put  up  the  horses  and  carriage. 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

A  NEW  SHIP  AND  ANOTHER  VOYAGE. 

morning  after  the  visit  to  the  Goodwins,  Captain 
A  Waters  called  the  family  together, — that  is,  Mrs. 
Waters,  George,  and  Susie,  saying  : 

'*  I  wish  to  have  a  little  talk  with  you  about  the  future, 
and  will  commence  by  asking  George,  if  he  thinks  that  he 
will  be  competent  to  command  a  ship  in  another  year?  " 

"Yes,  sir  ;  fully  competent  by  that  time,"  was  George's 
answer. 

"  Then  I  must  be  looking  about  me,  and  arrange  for  the 
building  of  a  ship  for  you  to  command." 

"  You  are  certainly  very  kind,  and  very  considerate, 
Cap'n  Waters,  and  I  am  greatly  obliged  to  you." 

Without  appearing  to  notice  what  George  had  said,  the 
Captain  continued  : 

"A  good  ship  can't  be  properly  built  in  less  than  a  year, — 
that  is,  if  expected  to  last  ;  and  no  other  kind  of  a  ship 
should  ever  be  built." 

"  Do  you  intend  to  own  the  whole  of  the  ship  ?  "  asked 
Mrs.  Waters. 

"  No,  mother  ;  only  five  eighths  of  the  ship, — the  con- 
troling  and  commanding  portion.  My  old  friend  and 
consignee  will  take  the  other  three  eighths." 


268  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

11  Where  will  the  ship  be  built  ?  "  was  asked  by  George 
Wilson. 

"In  New  Bedford,  where  the  '  Neptune '  was  built,  and 
by  the  Hillman  Brothers." 

44  How  large  a  ship  do  you  contemplate  building  ?  " 

44  Only  a  small  one,  George ;  about  one  thousand  tons. 
Very  large  ships  are  not  profitable  for  trading  voyages, 
though  they  do  very  well  when  freights  are  high.  Now 
tell  me  what  are  your  plans  about  being  married." 

At  that  question,  George  was  a  little  embarrassed,  but 
it  was  only  for  a  moment,  for  he  saw  in  the  bright  and 
beautiful  face  of  Susie,  an  expression  which  gave  him  con 
fidence,  and  he  answered  : 

44  It  is  our  intention,  still,  to  be  married  just  before  I  sail 
in  command  of  a  ship,  and  for  Susie  to  make  the  first 
voyage  with  me." 

"  If  that  is  the  case,"  said  Mrs.  Waters,  4<  we  shall  have 
to  let  Lizzie  go  with  them,  for  Susie  might  be  lonely 
at  times,  when  duty  called  George  on  deck  in  stormy 
weather." 

"Yes,  mother,  that  is  true;  and  I  have  been  thinking 
very  seriously  of  letting  the  Bo'son  go  one  voyage  with 
George,  to  put  the  new  ship  in  perfect  order  for  him. 
There  is  no  other  man  who  has  ever  sailed  with  me,  who 
could  be  so  useful  on  board  of  a  ship,  when  making  her 
first  voyage." 

"  If  you  could  spare  Bill,  I  should  much  like  to  have 
him,  and  another  voyage  would  be  pleasant  to  the 
Bo'son." 

"  Grandfather,"  said  Susie,  4'  I  have  a  secret  to  tell  you 
and  grandmother,  and  you  mustn't  scold  me  for  not  telling 
you  sooner.  The  Bo'son  and  Lizzie  are  to  be  married  at 
the  same  time  that  George  and  I  are." 

"  Whales,  chain-lightning,  pitch-forks,  and  threashing- 
machines  !  "  shouted  the  Captain. 

"China  tea-sets,  chicken-soup,  the  land  of  Goshen  ! 
Joseph  Waters,  do  hold  your  tongue.  What  makes  you 
use  such  unheard  of  expressions  ? " 

"  Now,  Nancy,  how  much  have  you  improved  on  my 
exclamations  ?  Well,  well,  mother,  never  mind  ;  we 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  269 

haven't  either  of  us  said  anything  very  bad  ;  but  the  news 
was  so  sudden,  and  so  unexpected,  that  it  took  us  both 
aback.  The  Bo'son  is  going  to  be  married  !  The  very 
funniest  thing  that  could  happen.  Sly-puss  !  how  long 
have  you  had  this  important  secret  stowed  away  in  your 
noddle?" 

"  Ever  since  the  '  first  cutter  '  brought  me  on  board." 

"  So  you  are  trying  to  talk  sailor,  because  you  are  to 
become  a  Captain's  wife.  I  understand  ;  you  received 
that  information  from  the  Bo'son,  when  he  brought  you 
up  from  the  station." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and  inherited  my  propensity  to  talk  sailor, 
from  my  grandfather ;  and  if  it  was  a  fortune,  I  should 
not  have  to  marry  for  it." 

"  Susie,  did  the  news  shock  you,  as  it  did  your  grand 
mother,  and  cause  you  to  say  bad  words  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  I  was  not  shocked  any  more  at  the  news, 
than  my  grandfather  was,  and  only  said,  '  It  will  be  the 
best  thing  you  ever  did,  Bo'son." 

"  Well,  Susie,  I  begin  to  think  that  you  have  more  com 
mand  over  yourself,  than  your  grandparents  have  ;  and 
now  let  us  '  call  all  hands,'  and  talk  this  whole  matter 
over,  in  a  '  seaman-like  '  manner.  Susie  you  call  the  stew 
ard,  Bo'son  and  Lizzie." 

It  was  not  an  uncommon  occurrence  for  the  Captain  to 
call  the  family  together,  on  the  farm,  as  he  had  often 
done  on  the  ship  ;  and  neither  of  them,  when  called,  con 
sidered  it  strange,  expecting  only  to  spend  a  pleasant 
hour  with  the  family,  and  George  Wilson.  The  Bo'son 
was  the  last  of  those  called,  to  make  his  appearance,  and 
he  brought  the  dog  with  him.  As  he  entered  the  room, 
Captain  Waters,  who  was  standing,  walked  to  him  and 
laying  his  hand  on  the  Bo'son's  shoulder,  said  : 

"  You  old  barnacle!  what  do  you  mean  by  shipping  for 
a  long  voyage,  without  letting  me  know  about  it  ? " 

The  Bo'son  fully  understood  his  Captain,  and  being 
satisfied  that  he  wasn't  displeased,  answered  : 

"  I  haven't  signed  the  articles  yet,  and  can  give  up  the 
voyage,  sir,  if  you  don't  like  it." 

"  A  fine  Bo'son  you  would  be,  to  promise  that  you 


ryo 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


would  go  a  voyage,  and  then  give  it  up.  Who  put  it  into 
your  head  to  think  of  being  married  ?  " 

"  You  did,  sir." 

"  When,  Bo'son,  did  I  ever  say  a  word  to  you  about 
marrying  ?  If  I  did,  I  have  no  recollection  of  it." 

"  It  was  on  board  of  the  ship  '  Neptune,'  sir,  the  even 
ing  that  you  agreed  to  let  me  come  to  the  farm,  and  bring 
Bose  with  me.  You  said  '  who  knows  but  you  may  get 
married,  and  have  a  farm  of  your  own  ?  '  After  we  left 
the  cabin,  Lizzie  laughed  about  my  marrying  a  rosy- 
cheeked,  corn-fed,  country  girl,  and  I  told  her,  that  '  if 
ever  Bill  Thomas  married,  the  woman  would  have  to  know 
something  about  salt  water.'  " 

"  I  remember  it  very  well,  Joseph,"  remarked  Mrs. 
Waters.  "  Don't  you,  steward  and  Lizzie  ?  ' 

The  steward  didn't  remember  it,  and  Lizzie  made  an 
effort  to  forget  it  but  couldn't  succeed,  and  was  laughed 
at  for  her  failure. 

Susie  Morton,  seeing  that  the  Bo'son  and  Lizzie  were 
both  a  little  embarrassed,  concluded  to  "  pilot  them  out  of 
danger." 

"  Grandfather,  there  is  no  use  in  your  trying  to  play 
mad  with  the  Bo'son,  for  there  are  too  many  warm  and 
kind  feelings  in  that  great  heart  of  yours  ;  and  you  are 
so  pleased  to  know  that  Bill  and  Lizzie  are  to  be  married, 
that  if  it  couldn't  be  accomplished  in  any  other  way,  you 
would  compel  me  to  break  my  engagement  with  George." 

"  No,  no  ;  I  wouldn't  do  that,  by  thunder  I  wouldn't; 
I  might  do  some  strange  things,  but  not  break  up  your 
arrangements  " 

"  Joseph  Waters,  why  will  you  use  such  expressions  ?  " 

"  O,  mother !  I  can't  always  stop  to  select  soft  words, 
when  I  am  in  a  hurry.  Now,  Bo'son,  hear  what  is  to  be 
your  fate,  as  a  punishment  for  your  folly.  You  and  Lizzie 
are  going  to  be  married,  and  I  mean  to  send  you  both 
away  from  the  farm." 

"  Where  in  the  name  of " 

"  Mind  what  you  say,  Bo'son." 

"  Where,  in  the  name  of  a  gun-tackle,  will  you  send  us, 
sir,  and  who  will  go  pilot  ?  " 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  2  7 1 

"  I  .have  not  made  up  my  mind  where  I  shall  send  you, 
but  surely  from  the  farm." 

The  Bo'son  and  Lizzie  began  to  look  very  serious,  be 
lieving  the  Captain  had  determined  on  breaking  up  the 
family,  which  had  so  long  been  together.  Susie  couldn't 
bear  to  see  the  Bp'son  in  trouble,  even  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  said  : 

"Bo'son,  don't  be  alarmed;  where  you  and  Lizzie  are 
sent,  George  and  I  will  be  going." 

"  Stop,  stop  ;  you  little  soft-hearted  tell-tale,"  said  the 
Captain.  "  I  am  the  Judge  to  sentence  the  Bo'son,  and 
mustn't  be  interfered  with.  Bill  Thomas,  late  Bo'son 
with  Joseph  Waters,  for,  and  in  consideration  of  your  hav 
ing  promised  to  marry  Lizzie  Jarvis,  without  the  knowl 
edge  and  consent  of  your  late  commander,  you  are  sen 
tenced  to  make  another  voyage  to  sea,  in  a  new  ship, 
under  the  command  of  George  Wilson,  and  to  take  your 
wife  and  dog  with  you." 

"  Capt'n,  Capt'n,  do  you  mean  that?  "  said  the  Bo'son. 
much  excited. 

"  Yes,  Bo'son  ;  I  do  mean  it."  And  the  Captain  briefly 
stated  the  arrangements,  which  seemed  to  bewilder  the 
Bo'son  for  a  few  minutes,  as  it  was  unexpected;  but  re 
covering  himself,  he  shouted  in  a  loud  voice  : 

"Cap'n  \Vilson !  Cap'n  Wilson!  My  little  George 
Cap'n  of  a  new  ship,  and  Bill  Thomas  his  Bo'son  !  Hur 
rah  !  hurrah !  The  Bo'son  makes  another  voyage,  and 
takes  the  dog  with  him  !  Speak,  Bose,  speak  !  " 

The  dog  did  speak,  and  speak  loudly ;  and  the  Bo'son, 
taking  George  Wilson  in  his  arms,  hugged  and  tossed 
him  up,  as  though  he  was  only  a  child.  The  Bo'son  then 
took  Susie  in  his  strong  arms,  but  handled  her  as  deli 
cately  as  he  would  have  handled  a  child.  He  tenderly 
kissed  her,  and  received  one  in  return,  after  which  he  be 
stowed  the  same  favor  on  Lizzie  and  Mrs.  Waters,  with 
out  giving  offence  to  either.  Captain  Waters  and  George 
Wilson  were  not  idle,  and  there  appeared  to  be  a  gen 
eral  kissing  game  played,  in  which  the  dog  took  an  ac 
tive  part,  for  his  paws  were  in  turn  on  the  shoulders  of 
everyone.  Then  the  Captain  and  Bo'son  took  each 


272 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


other  by  the  hand  ;  but  for  a  moment  neither  spoke, 
though  the  Captain  hammered  his  Bo'son  over  the  should 
ers  with  his  other  hand,  striking  such  heavy  blows  as 
would  have  injured  a  less  solid  frame.  Bill  Thomas  was 
the  first  to  speak,  saying  : 

"  Cap'n  Waters,  this  is  more  than  I  iiad  ever  expected 
to  live  and  see.  Your  boy  George,  whom  I  helped  to 
make  his  first  splice,  stood  by  him  when  he  steered  his 
first  trick  at  the  wheel,  and  was  at  his  side  the  first 
time  he  went  aloft ;  now  to  have  him  for  my  Cap'n,  and 
to  sail  under  him  as  his  Bo'son,  is  glory  enough  for  Bill 
Thomas.  God  bless  you,  Cap'n  Waters,  and  God  bless 
George,  Cap'n  Wilson." 

"  God  bless  us  all,  and  bless  you,  as  He  has  blessed  me 
with  such  a  Bo'son." 

The  Captain  and  his  Bo'son  were  both  nearly  over* 
come  with  the  warmth  and  earnestness  of  their  feelings. 
After  a  short  silence,  the  Captain,  still  holding  the  Bo'son 
by  his  hand,  said  : 

"  Bill,  I  never  meant  to  part  with  you,  and  I  only  do 
it  now  for  a  short  time,  because  George  will  be  a  new 
Cap'n,  and  the  ship  new,  and  I  know  that  on  the  first 
voyage,  you  can  be  very  useful  to  him ;  but  it  is  only 
for  one  voyage,  mind  you,  Bo'son." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  Mr.  Wilson  is  the  only  man  who  could 
have  your  Bo'son." 

"  Susie  is  the  only  woman  who  could  have  my  chamber 
maid,"  said  Mrs.  Waters. 

"  What  is  to  become  of  me  ?  "  asked  the  steward. 

"  You  must  stay  here,"  answered  the  Captain.  "  I  can't 
do  without  you,  to  keep  all  my  money  affairs  and  farm 
accounts  correct.  It  will  only  be  a  few  months  that  we 
shall  be  separated,  and  that  will  not  take  place  until  next 
year.  You,  steward,  I  hope,  will  always  remain  with  me, 
and  after  one  short  voyage,  the  Bo'son  and  Lizzie  will  be 
with  us  ;  and  we  shall  not  again  be  separated,  until  one 
after  another,  we  end  the  voyage  of  life.  I  shall  be  hap 
py  in  seeing  others  happy,  who  have  long  been  around 
me." 

Susie  Morton,  perceiving  that  the  Captain  was  deeply 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON. 


273 


exercised  in  feeling,  changed  the  current  of  his  reflec 
tions,  by  saying  : 

"  Grandfather,  let  me  name  the  new  ship,  if  you  please, 
and  I  will  furnish  a  set  of  colors  for  her,  of  my  own 
making  ?  " 

"  You  can  name  the  ship,  Susie.  Now,  what  will  you 
call  her?" 

"  I  will  name  the  ship  '  Joseph  Waters.'  " 
All  clapped  their  hands,  and  said  "  Joseph  Waters." 
The  Captain  could  make  no  objection,  and  that  name 
was   determined  on ;  which  pleased  them  all,   and   es 
pecially  the  old  Bo'son.     The  new  ship  and  her  first  voy 
age  furnished  the  little  family  party  subjects  for  conver 
sation,  until  a  late  hour  in  the  evening,  when  they  sepa 
rated  for  the  night,  each  to  remembe^the  past,  and  con 
template  the  future. 


CHAPTER  LIV. 

THE   CAPTAIN   BUILDS   A    SHIP,   AND    HARDENGRIP    WANTS 
A    WIFE. 

WHEN  George  and  Susie  left  the  farm  for  New  York, 
Captain  Waters  also  left,  going  to  the  city,  and 
stopping  there  a  few  days,  and  then  to  New  Bedford, 
where  he  contracted  for  building  the  new  ship.  The 
frame  was  to  be  put  up  during  the  summer  and  fall,  but 
not  to  be  planked  until  the  following  spring,  as  the  Cap 
tain  wished  the  frame  well  seasoned. 

The  arrangements  for  building  the  ship  did  not  keep 
the  Captain  long  from  his  home,  as  he  and  the  builders 
were  old  friends,  and  could  depend  on  each  other,  and 
the  ship  was  to  be  built  by  day's  work,  and  not  by  con 
tract.  Captain  Waters  wanted  a  ship  equal  in  goodness 
to  the  "  Neptune,"  and  was  willing  to  pay  for  every 
day's  work  done  in  her  construction. 

The  Hillman  Brothers  inquired  about  the  Bo'son,  and 
were  informed  that  he  would  rig,  but  not  assist  in  build- 


274 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


ing  the  ship.  They  expressed  some  regret,  as  they  would 
have  been  pleased  to  count  him  in  their  gang  of  car 
penters. 

Captain  Waters  returned  by  way  of  New  York,  and  took 
Susie  with  him  to  the  farm,  where  they  were  both,  as  might 
have  been  expected,  received  with  joy  and  satisfaction. 

Mrs.  Waters  asked  after  Mr.  Livingston  and  Julia,  and 
from  Susie  learned  that  Frank  was  constantly  going  from 
bad  to  worse;  that  although  Julia  lived  in  splendor  and 
had  all  that  money  could  purchase,  she  was  by  no  means 
happy,  and  admitted  that  fact  to  her  cousin.  Susie  could 
sympathize  with,  but  was  powerless  to  aid  her. 

Spring  work  on  the  farm  commenced  in  earnest,  about 
the  time  that  Captain  Waters,  George  and  Susie  left  for 
New  York,  and  when  the  Captain  returned,  all  the  spring 
crops  were  in  the  ground. 

The  good  neighbors  had  ceased  to  offer  advice  or  sug 
gestions  about  crops  on  the  Waters'  farm,  having  learned 
that  Captain  Waters,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Har- 
rowell  and  the  Bo'son,  could  manage  his  own  affairs. 

Anna  Moores,  who  had  long  wished,  at  last  paid  a  visit 
to  the  Snug  Harbor,  as  the  farm  was  now  generally  called. 
Before  doing  so,  she  asked  Ruth  Goodwin  to  her  house, 
to  assist  her  in  preparing  herself  for  the  visit.  Ruth 
cheerfully  consented,  and  when  Anna  left  home,  she  was 
really  in  a  presentable  condition,  and  realized  the  change 
in  herself.  Ruth  said  to  Anna: 

"  Thou  art,  truly,  a  very  goodly-looking  person,  when 
clean  and  properly  dressed,  and  though  I  have  often  seen 
thee  with  that  dress  on,  thou  hast  never  looked  as  comely 
dressed  as  now." 

"  O,  Ruth!  I  see  it  is  in  knowing  how  to  put  things  on, 
and  in  future  I  will  bestow  more  time  and  labor  in  at 
tiring  myself;  but  thee  must  remember  that  my  Jonathan, 
is  not  like  thy  Welcome,  pleased  to  be  neat  himself  in 
his  personal  appearance,  and  to  see  others  so." 

"  I  know  it,  Anna;  but  thou  canst  change  thyself,  and 
that  may,  in  some  degree,  change  thy  husband.  Husbands 
and  their  wives  often  grow  to  be  alike  in  their  habits, 
and  if  they  strive  to  do  so,  can  improve  each  other." 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  275 

"  I  believe  thee,  Ruth;  thank  thee  for  thy  assistance 
and  advice,  and  will  now  go." 

Anna  was  driven  to  the  Harbor  by  a  boy,  and  cordially 
received  by  Mrs.  Waters  and  Susie.  They  had  all  met 
at  the  meeting-house,  and  knew  each  other.  Anna  visited 
every  part  of  the  house,  not  excepting  the  kitchen  and 
steward's  room,  and  was  agreeably  astonished  at  all 
she  saw.  She  remained  to  tea,  and  wasn't  "pisened  "  by 
eating  victuals  cooked  by  "  a  nasty  man."  On  her  re 
turn,  like  the  Queen  of  Sheba,  she  said,  "  The  half  had 
not  been  told  me." 

The  summer  and  its  work  were  over,  fall  at  hand,  and 
winter  soon  to  follow.  Everything  on  the  farm,  and  in 
the  family  of  the  Captain,  had  been  pleasant  and  satis 
factory.  The  Bo'son  had  met  with  no  ship-wreck,  because 
he  had  become  a  good  navigator ;  nor  had  he  been  en 
gaged  in  any  act  which  furnished  special  amusement  for 
his  Captain. 

Amos  Hardengrip,  after  losing  his  sausage-meat,  by  a 
mistake  of  Anna  Moores,  and  being  nearly  whipped  by 
the  Bo'son,  improved  every  occasion  to  be  reconciled  with 
him;  and  the  Bo'son,  having  no  unkindness  in  his  heart, 
could  forgive,  but  never  respect  the  man.  They  were 
soon  on  speaking  terms,  and  Hardengrip  more  than  com 
monly  sociable.  The  Bo'son  suspected  there  was  some 
design  on  the  part  of  the  old  miser,  and  determined  to 
watch  him  closely.  After  a  time,  Mr.  Hardengrip  began 
to  ask  Bill  questions  about  Lizzie,  and  then  the  Bo'son 
concluded  that  he  was  after  another  wife,  and  thought  he 
could  see  some  fun  ahead,  and  decided  to  be  free  and 
communicative  the  next  time  they  met.  It  was  not  long 
before  they  did  meet,  and  Amos,  after  wishing  the  Bo'son 
good  morning,  more  pleasantly  than  usual,  said : 

"  Bo'son,  I've  been  thinking  a  good  deal  about  that 
Lizzie  at  your  house,  since  we  last  talked  about  her,  a 
few  days  since.  Do  you  think  she  would  like  to  have  a 
home  of  her  own  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  sir;  did  you  ever  know  a  woman  that 
didn't  ?  " 

"  Do  you  think  she  would  like  to  be  married  ?  " 


276 


CAPTAIN  WATERS 


"Yes,  Mr.  Hardengripe,  if  she  had  a  chance;  for  I 
have  often  heard  her  say  so." 

"  She  is  a  nice  kind  of  a  woman,  I  think,  Bo'son  ;  and 
knows  something  of  cooking  and  housekeeping." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  she  can  cook  equal  to  the  steward,  keep 
house  equal  to  Mrs.  Waters,  and  make  butter  equal  to 
any  woman  in  the  county." 

I   suppose,  Bo'son,   that  she  receives  wages    where 
she  is  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and  always  has,  for  more  than  twenty 
years." 

4  And  spends  it  all  in  buying  clothes  ?  " 
'  Not  a  bit  of  it ;  her  wages  would  clothe  a  queen." 
'  What  becomes  of  her  money  then  ?  " 
'  She  puts  it  in  the  bank." 

'  Ah,  oh,  that  is  it,"  said  Hardengrip,  "  She  must 
have  as  much  as  a  thousand  dollars." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  more  than  five  thousand  dollars." 

"  Is  that  possible, — and  you  think  she  would  like  to 
marry?" 

"Oh,  yes,  certainly;  and  the  man  than  gets  her  will 
have  a  treasure." 

"  She  must  have  a  good  stock  of  clothes,  Bo'son." 

"  Enough  to  last  her  ten  years." 

"  And  do  you  think,  if  she  married,  that  she  would  let 
her  husband  have  her  money  to  use,  and  make  more 
with  ? "  asked  Hardengrip. 

"  Every  dollar  of  it,  as  freely  as  she  would  give  him  a 
glass  of  water." 

"  I  should  like  to  call  on  her  some  time,  when  the  Cap 
tain,  yourself  and  the  dog  were  not  at  home." 

"  It  is  possible  that  we  may  be  from  home  to-morrow; 
and  if  we  are  you  will  know  it,  as  we  shall  drive  by  your 
house,"  said  the  Bo'son. 

Hardengrip  had  made  up  his  mind  to  have  Lizzie  Jar- 
vis  for  a  wife,  and  the  Bo'son  had  made  up  his  mind  to 
have  some  fun,  and  so  went  home,  and  first  told  Lizzie 
what  was  coming  ;  then  told  the  Captain,  leaving  Lizzie 
to  inform  Mrs.  Waters  and  Susie. 

That  night  Hardengrip   dreamed   of  Lizzie,   bags   of 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  277 

money,  snuff,  sausages,  and  coffins  made  of  old  boards, 
taken  off  the  fence  ;  and  felt  in  the  morning  that  he  really 
needed  a  good  and  careful  wife. 

The  next  day,  after  dinner,  he  saw  Captain  Waters  and 
the  Bo'son  pass  his  house  in  a  buggy  wagon,  followed  by 
the  dog  ;  and  Hardengrip  immediately  said  to  himself, 
"  This  is  my  time, — now,  or  never."  But  it  will  require 
another  chapter  to  tell  how  he  sped  in  his  wooing,  because 
his  first  visit  was  out  of  the  usual  order  of  such  calls. 


CHAPTER  LV. 

HARDENGRIP  GOES  A-COURTING. 

AMOS  Hardengrip  was  so  anxious  to  visit  Lizzie,  while 
those  he  most  feared  were  absent,  that  he  did  not 
wait  to  properly  dress  himself,  but  just  as  he  came  out  of 
the  field,  where  he  had  been  digging  potatoes  ;  he  left  his 
house  to  offer  himself  in  marriage  to  a  woman  who  had 
traveled  constantly  for  over  twenty  years,  and  had  lived 
with  refined  and  educated  people  all  that  time.  Harden 
grip  had  neither  coat  nor  stockings  on ;  wore  a  well  faded, 
and  well  soiled  brown  flannel  shirt ;  a  pair  of  dark  pants, 
with  a  black  patch  on  each  knee  ;  an  old  straw  hat,  with 
a  portion  of  the  brim  gone;  an  old  pair  of  shoes ;  and 
was  without  a  necktie  of  any  kind.  He  didn't  wash  his 
face  and  hands  after  leaving  the  field,  but  mounted  his 
old  yellow,  bald-faced  horse,  without  saddle  or  bridle, 
using  only  a  rope  halter  to  ride  him  with,  and  rode  to  the 
farm  house  of  Captain  Waters. 

Hardengrip  had  never  been  inside  of  a  well  furnished 
and  well-kept  house,  had  very  little  education,  and  had 
never  mingled  in  good  society,  or  he  would  not  have  gone 
on  such  a  mission,  in  such  a  manner.  His  anxiety  to 
get  and  keep  money,  was  so  great,  and  his  knowledge  of 
the  world  so  limited,  that  after  talking  with  the  Bo'son,  he 
entertained  the  idea  that  Lizzie  Jarvis  was  so  anxious  to 
marry,  that  she  only  waited  for  an  offer,  to  become  a  wife; 


278  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

and  his  only  fear  was  that  some  more  fortunate  man  would 
make  the  offer  before  him.  He  had  actually  decided  in 
his  own  mind,  how  he  would  invest  the  five  thousand  dol 
lars,  and  that  after  it  once  came  into  his  possession,  Lizzie 
Hardengrip  should  never  again  handle  or  control  a  dollar 
of  it.  Saying  to  himself  as  he  rode  down  the  road  :  "  I 
know  how  to  manage  money  and  women,  when  I  am  in 
full  charge  of  either." 

"Mrs.  Waters,  Susie  and  Lizzie  were  in  the  sitting- 
room  when  Mr.  Hardengrip  rode  up  to  the  gate,  dis 
mounted,  secured  his  horse  by  tying  him,  and  then  walked 
to  the  kitchen  door,  and  into  the  kitchen,  where  he  found 
the  steward  and  two  young  Irish  women,  who  belonged 
to  that  part  of  the  house.  Without  passing  the  compli 
ments  of  the  day,  or  any  ceremony,  he  said : 

"  I  want  to  see  Lizzie  Jarvis;  is  she  here  ? " 

The  steward  knew  Hardengrip,  and  in  his  quiet,  mild 
way,  answered : 

"  Mr.  Hardengrip,  Lizzie  is  in  the  sitting-room  with 
Mrs.  Waters  and  Miss  Morton ;  will  you  please  walk 
around  to  the  front  of  the  house,  and  to  the  room  on 
the  left  of  the  hall." 

Hardengrip  was  disappointed,  and  a  little  disconcerted, 
but  was  dreadfully  in  earnest.  He  had  never  been  in 
such  a  kitchen,  and  did  not  feel  at  home  even  in  that 
part  of  the  house.  He  mustered  resolution,  and  said  : 

"  Steward,  you  show  me  the  room." 

"  Certainly,  sir,  with  great  pleasure;  come  this  way  if 
you  please."  And  passing  through  the  dining-room  to 
the  main  hall,  he  went  with  the  visitor  into  the  sitting- 
room,  and  bowing,  said  :"  ladies,  Mr.  Hardengrip,"  and 
immediately  retired. 

Mrs.  Waters  left  her  seat,  and  in  an  easy,  pleasant  manner, 
walked  to  Mr.  Hardengrip,  offered  her  hand,  and  then  invit 
ed  him  to  be  seated,  the  other  ladies  rising  at  the  same  time, 
and  acknowledging  his  presence.  Hardengrip,  without 
walking,  running  or  hopping,  crossed  the  room  in  a  pecu 
liar  style,  and  took  a  seat  with  his  back  to  an  open 
window,  wearing  all  the  time  the  old  straw  hat,  which  he 
did  not  appear  to  think  necessary  to  remove,  and  his 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON, 


279 


pantaloons  being  short,  showed  a  large  proportion  of  his 
legs  below  the  knees,  and  they  were  well  covered  with 
the  soil  of  the  potato-field. 

It  being  in  the  forenoon,  the  women  were  plainly  but 
neatly  dressed,  and  were  all  engaged  with  some  light 
sewing  work.  In  re-seating  themselves,  as  an  act  of 
courtesy,  they  all  faced  the  visitor,  and  were  at  the  back 
of  the  centre-table.  Hardengrip,  to  use  a  nautical  phrase, 
was  "  hard  and  fast  ashore,"  as  everything  was  so  dif 
ferent  from  what  he  expected,  but  he  was  making  great 
efforts  to  float  himself.  He  kept  the  soil-colored  legs  in 
full  view,  and  constantly  moving  by  crossing,  uncrossing 
and  re-crossing  them,  and  the  first  words  which  he  uttered 
were : 

"  Lizzie  Jarvis,  I  want  a  wife." 

"  That  is  not  strange,  and  I  presume  you  will  have  no 
difficulty  in  getting  one." 

This  answer,  though  a  proper  one,  so  encouraged 
Hardengrip,  that  he  immediately  said : 

"  I  don't  expect  any  difficulty,  for  I  want  you  for  a 
wife,  and  you  will  marry  me." 

"  No,  Mr.  Hardengrip,  I  am  not  disposed  to  marry 
any  one  at  present." 

"  Don't  you  want  a  home  of  your  own,  where  you  will 
be  mistress  yourself?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  I  am  at  present  very  pleasantly  situated,  and 
have  a  good  home." 

"  But  it  isn't  your  own,  and  you  have  to  do  as  others 
tell  you." 

"  Mr.  Hardengrip,"  said  Mrs.  Waters,  "  Lizzie  has  been 
with  us  over  twenty  years,  and  while  we  have  a  house, 
she  will  never  want  one." 

"  That  may  all  be;  but  she  wants  a  ht)me  of  her  own, 
and  wants  a  husband,  as  every  woman  does." 

"  I  certainly  don't  wish  you  for  a  husband,  Mr.  Hard 
engrip,  and  again  say  no." 

.  "  What  is  the  matter  with  me,  that  I  aren't  the  man  to 
be  your  husband,  and  why  will  you  not  marry  me  ?  I  in 
sist  on  your  doing  so,  and  am  determined  to  take  no  re 
fusal." 


28o  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"I  am  afraid,  sir,that  if  I  married  you,  and  should  die, 
that  you  would  bury  me  in  a  coffin  made  of  old  boards, 
and  then  sell  my  clothes  and  sweatmeats." 

"  In  the  first  place,  there  is  no  fear  of  your  dying,  and 
if  you  do  you  shall  be  properly  buried." 

"  Mr.  Hardengrip,"  said  Mrs.  Waters,  "  there  is  ho 
chance  of  Lizzie's  marrying  you,  even  if  she  wished  to 
marry.  You  are  not  such  a  man  as  would  suit  her,  and 
you  should  be  satisfied  with  her  answer." 

"  Woman,  I  don't  want  anyone  to  interfere  in  this  mat 
ter ;  I  know  Lizzie  Jarvis,  after  thinking  over  the  matter 
a  little,  will  marry  me,  and  I  shall  have  her  for  my  wife 
before  next  killing  time." 

Lizzie  was  a  little  disturbed  and  a  little  riled,  and 
answered : 

"  I  know  that  she  will  not,  though  your  sausage  meat 
should  again  be  seasoned  with  snuff." 

When  that  subject  was  alluded  to,  Hardengrip  was  pro 
voked,  and  used  expressions  unsuited  to  the  place  and 
company,  and  wound  up  by  swearing  that  Lizzie  Jarvis 
should  be  his  wife,  if  it  cost  him  fifty  dollars.  As  he  con 
cluded  the  last  expression,  the  Bo'son  blew  some  shrill 
notes  on  his  silver  call,  close  to  the  ear  of  Hardengrip, 
who  jumped  from  his  chair,  and  without  ceremony  left 
the  room  and  the  house,  and  hastened  to  the  gate,  where 
he  mounted  his  horse  and  started  up  the  road. 

For  some  minutes  before  the  notes  were  sounded  at  the 
open  window,  and  close  to  the  ear  of  Hardengrip,  the 
Bo'son  had  been  seen  by  the  ladies,  who  were  facing  that 
way,  and  he  had  been  making  telegraphic  signals  to  Susie 
and  Lizzie,  which  were  also  observed  by  Mrs.  Waters. 
Had  Hardengrip  understood  the  notes  of  a  "  Bo'sons 
call,"  he  would  have  known  that  the  Bo'son  was  "  piping 
all  hands  to  mischief." 

Hardengrip  was  in  a  great  hurry, — as  the  Bo'son  would 
have  expressed  it, — "  to  leave  the  coast;"  and  Bill  let  him 
get  a  short  distance  on  the  road,  and  then  said  to  the  dog: 
"  Go  for  him,  Bose." 

The  dog  did  go,  at  the  bidding  of  his  master,  and  when 
Hardengrip  saw  the  dog  coming,  he  did  his  best  to  get  his 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO 'SON.  28 1 

horse  on  a  run,  but  failed,  and  the  dog  took  the  horse  by 
his  tail,  and  hauled  that  end  of  him  first  over  one  side  of 
the  road,  and  then  over  the  other  side.  Hardengrip  all 
the  time  whipping  the  horse  with  the  end  of  the  halter 
rope,  and  shouting  "  get  off  dog  !  get  off  dog  !  go  along 
jack  !  get  up  jack  !  "  while  his  own  long  legs  were  swing 
ing  about,  within  a  foot  of  the  ground  ;  the  whole  forming 
as  ludicrous  a  spectacle  as  could  have  possibly  been  got 
ten  up  to  order. 

The  Bo'son  called  the  dog  back  with  his  whistle,  and 
when  Mrs.  Waters  and  the  others  went  to  the  door,  the 
Bo'son  was  rolling  on  the  grass,  nearly  choking  with 
laughter;  but  contrary  to  his  custom,  uttered  not  a  word, 
and  soon  disappeared. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  Captain  Waters  and 
the  Bo'son  passed  the  house  of  Hardengrip,  on  their  way 
home,  followed  by  the  dog  ;  the  horses  and  dog  appear 
ing  to  have  made  a  long  journey.  Hardengrip  was  again 
digging  potatoes  near  the  road.  The  Captain  spoke  to 
him,  and  so  did  Bill,  but  he  wasn't  in  a  talking  mood. 
The  dog  took  not  the  slightest  notice  of  him.  Harden 
grip  was  never  able  to  satisfy  himself,  in  his  own  mind, 
whether  there  were  two  Bo'sons  and  two  dogs,  or  whether 
he  was  so  frightened  that  he  couldn't  tell  what  happened. 

How  the  Bo'son  managed  to  be  at  the  farm  with  his 
dog,  and  return  with  his  Captain,  none  but  those  two 
knew,  and  they  both  pretended  ignorance  of  what  had 
taken  place  in  their  absence,  but  failed  to  convince  the 
family  that  they  were  ignorant. 

Hardengrip  was  treated  with  more  courtesy  than  his 
manner  and  motive  deserved,  but  he  was  in  the  company 
of  refined  and  educated  ladies,  who  had  no  motive  nor 
desire  to  treat  him  otherwise. 

Captain  Waters  had  a  number  of  choking  spells,  that 
evening,  in  laughing  over  the  affair;  and  Mrs.  Waters,  as 
usual,  cautioned  him  ;  but  he  said  : 

"  Nancy,  it  is  no  use ;  let  me  alone  this  time,  and  let  me 
have  it  out.  The  Bo'son  didn't  tell  me  what  he  was  up 
to,  but  I  have  laughed  enough  to  last  me  a  month." 

Mrs.  Waters,  Susie  and  Lizzie  enjoyed  themselves  over 


282  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

the  affair,  which  was  not  allowed  to  slumber  for  many 
months,  and  each  time  when  it  was  mentioned,  it  furnished 
a  source  of  amusement  to  them  all. 


CHAPTER  LVI. 

JOE    WESTERN    GOES    TO    THE    FARM,  AND    THE    SHIP    TO 
NEW    YORK. 

THE  Bo'son's  face  wore  a  funny  appearance  for  a  num 
ber  of  days  after  the  visit  of  Hardengrip,  but  none 
of  the  family  ever  mentioned  the  circumstance,  outside  of 
their  own  circle ;  consequently  the  neighbors  knew  noth 
ing  about  it,  as  Hardengrip  was  not  likely  to  speak  of  it 
himself. 

After  the  fall  work  of  the  farm  was  all  done,  and  every 
thing  prepared  for  winter,  Captain  Waters  and  the  Bo'son 
visited  New  Bedford,  to  inspect  the  frame  of  the  new 
ship.  They  found  all  to  their  satisfaction,  and  the  Bo'son 
was  much  pleased,  as  the  ship  was  modeled  after  the 
"  Neptune,"  and  as  a  figure-head  was  to  have  an  image  of 
his  old  captain.  There  was  no  favor  which  could  have  been 
granted  the  Bo'son,  in  this  world,  that  would  have  been 
so  highly  prized,  and  so  gratifying  to  him,  as  that  of  sail 
ing  in  a  ship  called  the  "  Joseph  Waters,"  carrying  on  her 
prow  the  image  of  his  old  commander. 

Returning  by  way  of  New  York,  they  spent  a  number 
of  days  in  the  city,  and  the  Bo'son  visited  the  Sailors' 
Smig  Harbor,  and  there  met  his  first  friend,  Joe  Western, 
who  aided  him  to  run  away  from  the  brig,  at  Fayal,  thirty- 
four  years  previous  to  their  meeting  at  the  Harbor.  The 
Bo'son  recognized  his  friend,  though  time  and  hard  ser 
vice  had  somewhat  changed  him.  Great  was  the  joy  of 
Joe  Western,  when  he  found,  in  the  old  Bo'son,  what  was 
once  his  little  boy  friend,  Bill  Thomas.  They  spent  the 
day  together,  and  communicated  to  each  other  a  thirty- 
four  years'  history  of  their  lives.  Western,  like  too  many 
seamen,  had  saved  nothing  to  supply  his  wants  in  old 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  2fy 

age,  and  though  hale  and  hearty,  for  a  man  sixty-seven 
years  of  age,  was  unfitted  for  active  sea-service,  and  had 
anchored  at  the  Snug  Harbor.  He  was  as  pleased  to  hear 
of  the  Bo'son's  good  fortune,  and  comfortable  circum 
stances,  as  he  was  to  again  see  him.  There  is  a  tie  which 
binds  seamen  together,  stronger  and  more  lasting  than  the 
ties  which  bind  any  other  class,  or  clan  of  men.  When 
they  parted,  the  Bo'son  promised  to  see  his  friend  again, 
before  he  left  for  the  farm. 

That  evening  the  Bo'son  asked  the  Captain  if  he  could 
spare  a  few  minutes  to  talk  with  the  Bo'son. 

"  Certainly,  Bo'son,  always  time  to  talk  with  you.  Any 
accident,  Bill?  Let  me  hear  what  it  is." 

"No,  sir;  no  accidents, — but  I  have  found  my  old  ship 
mate,  Joe  Western,  whom  I  have  often  told  you  of." 

"I  remember  all  that  you  have  said  about  him,  and  that 
he  assisted  you  to  run  away  from  a  brute  of  a  cap'n,  or 
I  should  never  had  you  for  a  Bo'son.  Where  is  he,  and 
what  can  we  do  for  him  ?  " 

The  Bo'son  stated  all  the  particulars  of  Joe's  wherea 
bouts,  age,  health,  and  circumstances,  and  then  said  : 

"  I  am  going  out  in  the  new  ship,  and  you  will  want 
some  one,  on  the  farm,  and  around  the  house,  to  take  care 
of  things,  and  keep  all  snug.  Western  is  just  the  man, 
though  he  can't  carpenter  and  blacksmith.  I  should  like 
to  take  him  up  with  us." 

"  That's  right,  Bo'son,  you  do  it.  There  is  plenty  to 
eat  on  the  farm,  and  he  shall  not  want  clothes  nor  money. 
Never  forget  a  friend  nor  a  favor.  He  shall  have  all  he 
needs  to  make  him  comfortable  in  his  old  age,  whether 
he  can  work  or  not,  and  I  will  take  care  that  he  don't  hurt 
himself  with  hard  work." 

"  Thank  you,  Cap'n,  thank  you  ;  I'll  attend  to  him,  and 
glad  enough  he'll  be." 

The  next  day  the  Bo'son  went  to  the  Harbor,  and  ar 
ranged  with  his  shipmate  to  go  with  them  to  the  farm. 
Western  obtained  leave  of  absence  from  the  Governor  of 
the  institution  for  six  months,  which  could  be  be  renewed 
if  required. 

The  Captain,  Bo'son,  and  Joe  Western  returned  to  the 


284  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

farm,  and  when  the  family  learned  who  the  third  person 
was,  they  all  gave  him  a  warm  and  hearty  reception.  Bill 
took  him  to  the  midship-house,  gave  him  the  spare  berth, 
with  a  privilege  of  the  whole  establishment.  Western 
was  pleased  with  his  change  from  the  old  to  the  new  Snug 
Harbor.  After  Western  had  been  a  few  weeks  at  the 
farm,  he  appeared  to  renew  his  age,  and  said  : 

"  I  am  happier,  and  better  situated  now,  than  I  have 
been  since  I  left  my  father's  house,  over  fifty  years 
ago." 

When  Captain  Waters  heard  him  make  the  remark,  he 
took  his  hat  off,  and  reverently  said,  "  Thank  God." 

The  winter  was  spent  at  the  farm,  as  the  preceding  one 
had  been.  Susie  Morton  visited  the  city  during  the  1  5li- 
days,  and  was  accompanied  back  to  the  farm  by  George 
Wilson,  who  had  returned  from  his  voyage  to  Europe,  and 
was  granted  a  leave  of  absence  of  ten  days  from  the  ship, 
previous  to  his  preparing  for  the  last  voyage  which  he 
would  make,  before  taking  command  of  the  new  ship, 
"  Joseph  Waters." 

The  ten  days  spent  by  George  Wilson  at  th».  Waters 
Snug  Harbor,  were  ten  days  of  real,  rational  enjoyment. 
Bill  Thomas  the  Bo'son  was  in  his  glory.  Sleighing  was 
good,  the  weather  fine,  with  a  moon  near  the  full,  and 
Bill's  sleigh,  the  "  first  cutter,"  in  perfect  order.  It  being 
a  gala  season,  the  Bo'son  a  good  and  careful  driver,  and 
having  extra  road  service  to  perform,  the  Captain  said  to 
him  : 

"  Bo'son,  you  can  drive  my  carriage-horses,  when  Fayal 
and  Pico  need  rest.  You  have  become  such  a  good  driver, 
that  I  can  trust  you  with  my  fancy  team." 

"  Thank  you,  sir;  Fayal  and  Pico,  that  you  put  in  my 
charge,  are  good  horses,  and  I  have  taken  extra  good  care 
of  them;  7>ut  while  Mr.  Wilson  is  here,  there  will  be 
double  duty  for  horses,  and  when  I  drive  Whalebone  and 
Grampus,  will  be  very  careful  of  them." 

George  Wilson  was  pleased  with  Bill's  novel  sleigh,  and 
the  manner  that  he  handled  and  drove  the  horses,  and 
enjoyed  the  many  rides  given  him  by  the  Bo'son.  IP 
speaking  of  it  to  Captain  Waters,  he  said  : 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON.  285 

"  I  believe  there  are  but  few  things  the  Bo'son  couldn't 
learn,  and  do  well." 

"  George,  Bill  Thomas  is  a  remarkable  man,  and  every 
year  appears  to  grow  younger  and  smarter.  Only  let  him 
have  some  innocent  fun,  and  for  the  time  he  will  be  a 
boy;  and  when  there  are  duties  to  perform,  he  is  more 
than  a  man.  Hardengrip's  coming  here  after  Lizzie  will 
furnish  Bill  amusement  all  his  life-time." 

"  Bill  has  told  me  all  about  it,  sir,  and  I  have  never 
known  him  to  enjoy  any  sport  so  heartily." 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters,  George  and  Susie,  would  fill 
all  the  seats  in  the  body  of  the  sleigh,  and  as  they  wished 
to  have  Lizzie  make  one  of  the  party,  Bill  arranged  a  seat 
for  her  on  the  top-gallant  forecastle  of  the  sleigh,  saying  : 

"  Lizzie  is  soon  to  be  a  Bo'son's  mate;  her  proper  place 
is  at  his  side." 

All  their  friends  in  the  neighborhood,  and  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river,  in  Washington  county,  were  visited;  the 
sick  and  needy  called  on,  comforted  and  relieved,  and 
all  that  would  give  comfort  to  others,  was  enjoyed  by  the 
family  at  the  farm. 

The  last  day  of  George's  stay  at  the  farm  was  a  bright, 
sunny  one,  and  the  Bo'son,  accompanied  by  the  family, 
drove  him  in  the  sleigh  to  the  depot. 

When  the  winter  was  over,  and  spring-time  came,  Bill 
prepared  to  leave  with  Captain  Waters  for  New  Bedford ; 
the  Captain  to  superintend  the  finishing  of  the  ship,  and 
the  Bo'son  to  rig  her,  and  see  that  everything  was  in  order 
for  a  voyage. 

As  this  was  likely  to  be  the  last  ship  that  Captain 
Waters  would  be  an  owner  of,  and  was  to  bear  his  name, 
and  to  carry  his  image  as  a  figure-head  on  her  bow,  extra 
work  was  done  on  every  part  of  the  ship.  After  the 
name  was  decided  upon,  the  size  of  the  ship  was  increased 
one-third,  and  when  finished  she  was  fifteen  hundred 
tons  burthen,  instead  of  one  thousand  tons,  as  originally 
intended.  The  increased  size  may  have  been  caused  by 
a  little  pride  on  the  part  of  her  owner,  and  if  so,  it  could 
be  pardoned  in  one  of  his  character. 

The  ship  was  finished,  rigged  "  hove  down,"  re-caulked 
and  coppered,  the  captain  saying : 


286  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

"  I  know  that  there  is  no  port  in  the  world  where  the 
work  on  a  ship's  bottom  can  be  so  faithfully  and  effectually 
done  as  at  New  Bedford.  The  long  voyages  which  theii 
whale  ships  make,  have  taught  them  the  necessity  of  doing 
their  work  well." 

After  the  bottom  of  the  ship  was  prepared  for  sea,  the 
last  coat  of  paint  was  put  on  the  hull  and  spars,  the 
sails  "  bent,"  and  the  ship  ready  to  proceed  to  New  York. 

George  Wilson  hid  not  arrived  from  his  last  voyage  as 
first  officer  of  a  ship,  but  was  daily  expected;  continued 
westerly  winds  had  lengthened  his  passage  from  Liver 
pool  beyond  the  usual  time. 

Captain  Waters  shipped  a  crew,  and  took  the  ship  to 
New  York,  arriving  off  the  Hook,  the  day  that  the  "  Nep 
tune  "  did  from  Liverpool,  and  the  two  ships  sailed  up  the 
Bay  together. 

Well  might  George  Wilson  be  proud  of  the  ship  that  he 
was  to  command,  for  after  arriving  at  the  dock,  and  being 
examined  by  nautical  men,  she  was  pronounced  to  be  as 
fine  and  perfect  a  ship  as  had  ever  been  built.  A  freight 
for  London  was  engaged  for  the  ship,  officers  placed  on 
board  of  her ;  and  Captain  Waters,  George  Wilson  and 
Bill  Thomas  left  for  the  farm,  there  to  attend  to  some  very 
important  matters. 


CHAPTER  LVII. 

A  DOUBLE  MARRIAGE,  AND   COSTLY  PRESENTS. 

PREPARATIONS  for  the  double  marriage  had,  for  a 
1  long  time,  been  making  at  the  country  home  of  Jos 
eph  Waters.  The  Captain  and  his  lady  were  determined 
that  nothing  should  be  left  undone  to  render  the  occasion 
an  interesting  one,  not  only  to  those  that  were  to  be  uni 
ted,  but  to  all  who  might  be  present. 

Lizzie,  after  a  little  opposition  on  the  part  of  the 
Bo'son,  succeeded  in  persuading  him  to  dress  differently 
from  common,  on  that  occasion,  so  that  he  might  look  a 
little  like  other  folks,  when  they  were  married. 


AND  J3f£L,  ft  IS  BO' SON.  2rsj 

11 1  will  do  it  for  you,  Lizzie,  but  I  wouldn't  have  done 
it  for  any  other  live  woman." 

"  Except  Susie,"  was  Lizzie's  reply. 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  I  would  do  anything  for  black-eyed  Susan, 
but  I'll  not  have  a  claw-hammer  coat  ;  it  shall  be  a  frock 
coat,  made  of  navy  blue  cloth,  with  white  trousers,  white 
waist-coat,  white  shirt,  with  a  turndown  collar,  blue  neck 
tie, — and  if  you  insist  on  it, — gloves  for  the  occasion; 
but  I  can't  wear  gloves  all  day." 

"  That  isn't  necessary,  Bill ;  but  you  will  have  a  shore- 
hat,  because  we  shall  visit  some  in  the  city,  before  we 
sail  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Lizzie  ;  I'll  do  that  too,  and  then  I  shall  hardly 
know  myself,  and  don't  believe  the  old  dog  will  know  me, 
I  shall  be  so  changed." 

"  You  will  remember,  Bo'son,"  continued  Lizzie,  "  that 
two  and  a  half  years  on  shore,  has  changed  us  all  in  hab 
its,  though  not  in  character  ;  and  now  we  are  about  to 
change  our  relationship  to  each  other,  and  notwithstand 
ing  that  you  are  going  Bo'son  gf  the  ship,  you  are  to  live 
in  the  cabin,  and  eat  with  the  Captain  and  officers,  as  I 
also  shall ;  being  more  of  a  companion  for  Susie,  than 
stewardess  of  the  ship." 

"  I  know  it  all,  Lizzie,  and  will  do  whatever  you  wish 
while  ashore." 

Cards  of  invitation  had  been  sent  to  the  neighbors  whom 
the  family  were  accustomed  to  exchange  visits  with,  in 
cluding  Welcome  and  Ruth  Goodwin. 

The  cards  stated  that  the  marriages  would  take  place 
at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon;  and  reception  until  one  in 
the  afternoon. 

Susie's  father,  mother  and  brothers  were  there,  also 
many  friends  from  the  city,  including  Julia  Livingston, 
who  left  the  city  with  her  father  and  mother,  to  be  pres 
ent  at  the  wedding  of  her  cousin.  Frank  sent  his  complir 
ments,  and  an  excuse  that  his  illness  prevented  his  being 
present.  The  family  fully  understood  the  excuse. 

The  Bo'son  was  indeed  a  changed  man  in  his  appear 
ance,  when  dressed  in  a  suit  so  different  from  what  he 
had  always  been  accustomed  to  wear.  A  finer,  nobler  ap- 


288  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

pearing  representative  of  the  family  of  "  Neptune,"  never 
kd  a  blushing  bride  to  Hymen's  altar. 

Susie  and  Lizzie  were  dressed  beautifully  for  the  occa 
sion,  and  looked  as  lovely  and  happy  as  brides  could  pos 
sibly  look. 

At  the  hour  appointed,  the  family  and  invited  guests 
were  arranged,  standing  around  three  sides  of  the  front 
parlor  of  the  family  house,  the  good  minister  and  his  friend 
standing  in  the  middle,  but  nearest  and  facing  the  folding 
doors. 

The  company  was  not  kept  waiting  long,  as  George 
Wilson  soon  appeared  in  the  back  parlor,  with  Susie  by 
the  hand,  and  the  Bo'son  following  him,  hand  in  hand 
with  Lizzie  Jarvis.  George  passed  through  the  folding 
doors  with  his  lovely  companion,  and  stood  before  the 
minister;  the  Bo'son  and  Lizzie  took  their  places  at  the 
left  of  Susie.  They  were  unaccompanied  by  groomsmen 
or  bridesmaids.  A  more  lovely  sight  could  not  have  been 
presented  to  the  gathered  friends.  A  brief  but  appropri 
ate  prayer,  a  simple  ceremony,  followed  by  a  benediction, 
and  George  Wilson  and  Susie  Morton  were  united  for 
life,  and  so  were  Bill  Thomas  and  Lizzie  Jarvis. 

The  usual  congratulations  and  kisses  were  bestowed, 
and  the  company  invited  into  the  back  parlor,  to  see  and 
examine  the  bridal  gifts. 

These  presents  were  rich  and  beautiful,  that  were  be 
stowed  upon  Susie,  consisting  mostly  of  silver  ware, 
valuable  books  and  articles  which  would  not  only  be 
keepsakes,  but  also  useful  in  life.  It  being  known  to  all 
the  friends  of  Susie  Morton,  that  she  was  not  fond  of  jew 
elry,  nor  accustomed  to  make  much  display  of  it,  she  re 
ceived  only  one  set,  and  that  of  great  beauty  and  value  to 
her,  as  it  was  made  in  Europe,  brought  across  the  ocean 
by  George  Wilson,  and  presented  before  her  marriage. 
She  wore  it  at  her  wedding.  Lizzie  was  not  forgotten, 
but  received  a  present  from  all  who  were  acquainted  with 
her. 

It  was  noticed  that  Susie's  presents  from  her  grand 
father,  father,  brother  and  uncles,  though  they  were  all 
beautiful,  and  calculated  to  be  lasting,  were  not  of  great 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON  289 

value,  and  some  present  were  surprised  at  it,  knowing 
their  ability  to  make  costly  ones.  Mrs.  Waters  quickly 
expressed  her  surprise  to  Susie's  father,  and  he  walked 
to  the  table  where  the  others  were  standing,  taking  at  the 
same  time  a  package  from  his  pocket,  and  saying  : 

"  Susie,  my  dear  child,  I  am  so  pleased  and  satisfied 
with  your  marriage,  that  I  present  you,  as  a  bridal  gift, 
the  deed  of  a  house  and  lot  in  the  city,  which  I  paid  ten 
thousand  dollars  for  ;  also  a  bond  of  three  thousand  dol 
lars,  bearing  interest,  which  you  can  convert  into  cash, 
when  you  wish  to  furnish  the  house." 

The  rich  gift  was  so  unexpected,  that  Susie,  with  all 
her  self-command,  could  only  kiss  and  simply  thank  her 
father,  but  her  joy  and  thankfulness  was  pictured  in  every 
liniament  of  her  face.  Her  uncles,  the  two  sons  of  Cap 
tain  Waters,  each  presented  a  government  bond  for  two 
thousand  dollars,  and  her  brother  a  similar  bond  for  one 
thousand  dollars.  They  each  received  a  grateful  ac 
knowledgement  of  their  kind  remembrances  and  valuable 
presents. 

Mrs.  Waters  went  to  the  table,  and  taking  up  a  package 
of  silver  forks  and  spoons,  marked  "  From  grandfather  to 
his  pet,  Susie,"  said  : 

"  Joseph  Waters,  your  heart  must  have  been  opened 
very  wide,  when  you  made  that  present  to  our  Susie,  as 
a  bridal  gift.  It  isn't  like  you,  and  I  fear  you  are  not 
well." 

Captain  Waters  looked  like  anything  but  a  sick  man. 
His  face  was  cheerful,  and  his  eyes  sparkling  with  de 
light  ;  he  had  shaken  the  hands  of  the  whole  company  a 
number  of  times,  and  kissed  Susie  every  time  he  could 
get  near  enough  to  her  to  do  so,  petted  the  old  dog,  and 
pulled  his  ears,  while  he  was  watching,  with  pleasure,  the 
others  as  they  bestowed  their  gifts  on  his  darling  grand 
child.  In  answer  to  the  remarks,  he  said  : 

• "  No,  mother,  I  am  not  sick,  nor  exactly  like  myself. 
I  haven't  been  present  when  any  of  the  children  were 
married  before,  and  now  four  of  them  are  '  spliced  '  in  a 
single  day  ;  but  they  shall  have  something  to  remind  them 
of  the  old  man  of  the  ocean ;  "  and  walking  to  Susie,  he 

13 


2gg  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

pearing  representative  of  the  family  of  "  Neptune,"  never 
kd  a  blushing  bride  to  Hymen's  altar. 

Susie  and  Lizzie  were  dressed  beautifully  for  the  occa 
sion,  and  looked  as  lovely  and  happy  as  brides  could  pos 
sibly  look. 

At  the  hour  appointed,  the  family  and  invited  guests 
were  arranged,  standing  around  three  sides  of  the  front 
parlor  of  the  family  house,  the  good  minister  and  his  friend 
standing  in  the  middle,  but  nearest  and  facing  the  folding 
doors. 

The  company  was  not  kept  waiting  long,  as  George 
Wilson  soon  appeared  in  the  back  parlor,  with  Susie  by 
the  hand,  and  the  Bo'son  following  him,  hand  in  hand 
with  Lizzie  Jarvis.  George  passed  through  the  folding 
doors  with  his  lovely  companion,  and  stood  before  the 
minister;  the  Bo'son  and  Lizzie  took  their  places  at  the 
left  of  Susie.  They  were  unaccompanied  by  groomsmen 
or  bridesmaids.  A  more  lovely  sight  could  not  have  been 
presented  to  the  gathered  friends.  A  brief  but  appropri 
ate  prayer,  a  simple  ceremony,  followed  by  a  benediction, 
and  George  Wilson  and  Susie  Morton  were  united  for 
life,  and  so  were  Bill  Thomas  and  Lizzie  Jarvis. 

The  usual  congratulations  and  kisses  were  bestowed, 
and  the  company  invited  into  the  back  parlor,  to  see  and 
examine  the  bridal  gifts. 

These  presents  were  rich  and  beautiful,  that  were  be 
stowed  upon  Susie,  consisting  mostly  of  silver  ware, 
valuable  books  and  articles  which  would  not  only  be 
keepsakes,  but  also  useful  in  life.  It  being  known  to  all 
the  friends  of  Susie  Morton,  that  she  was  not  fond  of  jew 
elry,  nor  accustomed  to  make  much  display  of  it,  she  re 
ceived  only  one  set,  and  that  of  great  beauty  and  value  to 
her,  as  it  was  made  in  Europe,  brought  across  the  ocean 
by  George  Wilson,  and  presented  before  her  marriage. 
She  wore  it  at  her  wedding.  Lizzie  was  not  forgotten, 
but  received  a  present  from  all  who  were  acquainted  with 
her. 

It  was  noticed  that  Susie's  presents  from  her  grand 
father,  father,  brother  and  uncles,  though  they  were  all 
beautiful,  and  calculated  to  be  lasting,  were  not  of  great 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON  289 

value,  and  some  present  were  surprised  at  it,  knowing 
their  ability  to  make  costly  ones.  Mrs.  Waters  quickly 
expressed  her  surprise  to  Susie's  father,  and  he  walked 
to  the  table  where  the  others  were  standing,  taking  at  the 
same  time  a  package  from  his  pocket,  and  saying  : 

"  Susie,  my  dear  child,  I  am  so  pleased  and  satisfied 
with  your  marriage,  that  I  present  you,  as  a  bridal  gift, 
the  deed  of  a  house  and  lot  in  the  city,  which  I  paid  ten 
thousand  dollars  for  ;  also  a  bond  of  three  thousand  dol 
lars,  bearing  interest,  which  you  can  convert  into  cash, 
when  you  wish  to  furnish  the  house." 

The  rich  gift  was  so  unexpected,  that  Susie,  with  all 
her  self-command,  could  only  kiss  and  simply  thank  her 
father,  but  her  joy  and  thankfulness  was  pictured  in  every 
liniament  of  her  face.  Her  uncles,  the  two  sons  of  Cap 
tain  Waters,  each  presented  a  government  bond  for  two 
thousand  dollars,  and  her  brother  a  similar  bond  for  one 
thousand  dollars.  They  each  received  a  grateful  ac 
knowledgement  of  their  kind  remembrances  and  valuable 
presents. 

Mrs.  Waters  went  to  the  table,  and  taking  up  a  package 
of  silver  forks  and  spoons,  marked  "  From  grandfather  to 
his  pet,  Susie,"  said  : 

"  Joseph  Waters,  your  heart  must  have  been  opened 
very  wide,  when  you  made  that  present  to  our  Susie,  as 
a  bridal  gift.  It  isn't  like  you,  and  I  fear  you  are  not 
well." 

Captain  Waters  looked  like  anything  but  a  sick  man. 
His  face  was  cheerful,  and  his  eyes  sparkling  with  de 
light  ;  he  had  shaken  the  hands  of  the  whole  company  a 
number  of  times,  and  kissed  Susie  every  time  he  could 
get  near  enough  to  her  to  do  so,  petted  the  old  dog,  and 
pulled  his  ears,  while  he  was  watching,  with  pleasure,  the 
others  as  they  bestowed  their  gifts  on  his  darling  grand 
child.  In  answer  to  the  remarks,  he  said  : 

• "  No,  mother,  I  am  not  sick,  nor  exactly  like  myself. 
I  haven't  been  present  when  any  of  the  children  were 
married  before,  and  now  four  of  them  are  '  spliced '  in  a 
single  day  ;  but  they  shall  have  something  to  remind  them 
of  the  old  man  of  the  ocean ;  "  and  walking  to  Susie,  he 

13 


290  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

also  handed  her  a  package,  saying :  "  There,  my  darling, 
is  a  bill  of  sale  of  five  eighths  of  the  ship  '  Joseph 
Waters,'  cash  value  of  fifty-seven  thousand,  four  hundred 
and  forty  dollars.  Accept  it  as  a  bridal  present  from 
grandfather,  and  may  she  always  have  good  freights  and 
fair  winds." 

It  was  a  surprise  to  them  all,  and  Mrs.  Wafers  could 
not  conceal  her  pleasure  and  satisfaction.  Susie  put  her 
arms  around  his  neck,  saying,  after  kissing  him  : 

"  Grandpa,  what  can  I  say  or  do  ?  You  are  such  a 
good  man." 

"  Nothing,  my  child,  nothing ;  only  continue  to  be  good 
and  be  happy." 

The  Bo'son  could  stand  no  more  ;  his  heart  v  .is  full, 
and  he  shouted : 

"Hurrah!  hurrah!  for  everybody  and  every thinb!  " 

Captain  Waters  said : 

"You,  Bo'son,  close  that  upper  gangway  of  yours,  and 
come  here." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  was  Bill's  response. 

"  Here,  sir,"  continued  the  Captain, "  is  a  deed  of  thirty 
acres  of  land,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  together 
with  the  buildings  and  all  the  improvements,  as  a  present 
for  you,  and  a  home  in  your  old  age." 

"  Cap'n  Waters,  what  makes  you  do  so  ?  I  thank  you, 
but  don't  deserve  such  treatment,  and  haven't  any  cargo 
of  words  to  hoist  out." 

"  Close  your  hatches,  then,  Bo'son,  and  stand  by  for 
dinner,  for  I  am  hungry  and  dry,"  replied  the  Captain. 

A  bountiful  dinner  was  partaken  of  by  all  present, 
over  which  they  had  no  time  to  waste,  but  enough  to  fully 
enjoy  it,  as  the  whole  family  were  to  leave  that  afternoon 
for  the  city,  including  the  old  dog. 

The  guests  living  in  the  neighborhood  were  pleased 
with  the  entertainment.  Welcome  Goodwin  and  his  wife 
were  utterly  astonished  at  the  display  of  wealth,  and  the 
lavish  freedom  with  which  Captain  Waters  and  his  children 
bestowed  it  upon  the  newly-married  people.  When  part 
ing  with  George  Wilson,  the  Bo'son  and  their  wives,  Mr. 
Goodwin  said,  while  shaking  hands  with  them: 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON.  391 

"  May  you  be  blessed  with  corn  and  with  oil;  the  fat 
of  the  land  be  yours,  and  Heaven's  richest  and  choicest 
blessings  be  scattered  all  around  you.  Farewell,  friends." 

The  Captain,  when  he  and  Mr.  Morton  were  by  them 
selves,  said: 

"  What  do  you  think,  William,  about  George  Wilson 
having  no  rich  relations  nor  powerful  friends  ? " 

"  Father,  I  am  satisfied;  you  have  been  very  generous, 
and  we  all  are  blessed." 

Julia  was  sad  and  very  sorrowful,  and  in  congratulating 
her  cousin  said: 

"  You  will  be  happy,  and  I  miserable.  You  endeavored 
to  save  me,  but  I  would  not,  and  I  must  suffer  through 
life." 

Late  that  afternoon,  the  whole  family  left  for  New 
York,  all  but  Julia  happy  and  joyful,  and  all  of  them 
pitying  poor  Julia  Livingston. 


CHAPTER   LVIII. 

CONCLUSION. 

/CAPTAIN  Waters  had  bestowed  a  rich  bridal  gift  on  his 
^  pet  grandchild,  but  in  doing  so,  had  not  displeased 
any  member  of  his  family.  Years  before  he  had  fur 
nished  each  of  his  two  sons  with  a  sum  greater  than  the 
cost  of  a  new  ship,  as  a  capital  for  them  to  do  business 
with,  so  they  had  no  cause  to  complain.  Mrs.  Morton, 
the  Captain's  only  daughter,  and  mother  of  Susie,  was 
not  likely  to  complain  at  the  good  fortune  of  her  only 
daughter.  Mr.  Morton  remembered  that  he  had  once  ob 
jected  to  having  George  Wilson  for  a  son-in-law,  because 
he  had  no  rich  relations,  and  he  also  remembered  the  reply : 
"  If  he  marries  our  Susie,  he  will  have  one  powerful 
friend,  one  rich  relation;  for  he  will  have  Joseph  Waters 
for  a  grandfather."  Mr.  Morton  fully  realized  the  truth 
of  that  remark  in  the  rich  dowry  bestowed  upon  his 
daughter  by  her  grandfather.  Only  Mrs.  Waters  and  the 


294  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

one.  Captain  Waters  had  given  his  special  attention  to 
the  cabins,  and  his  long  experience  in  that  line  of  busi 
ness,  enabled  him  to  fit  them  up  with  great  taste,  and  with 
every  convenience  to  make  them  pleasant  and  convenient. 

It  was  very  difficult  to  determine  whether  Captain  Waters 
or  his  Bo'son  felt  the  greatest  pride  and  satisfaction  in 
seeing  George  Wilson  master  of  such  a  ship,  and  of  ad 
dressing  him  as  "  Cap'n  Wilson."  Mrs.  Waters,  when  on 
board,  and  observing  the  manner  of  her  husband  and  the 
Bo'son  said :  "  I  believe  you  are  both  growing  childish 
about  George  and  his  new  ship."  But  there  was  some 
thing  in  the  sparkle  of  her  eyes,  and  the  brightness  of 
her  face,  which  plainly  told  there  was  no  disapproval  of 
their  conduct  on  her  part. 

When  the  ship  was  loaded  and  ready  for  sea,  Captain 
Waters  engaged  the  steamer  "  Goliath,"  to  tow  her  outside 
of  the  Hook,  and  if  wished,  to  the  Light-Ship ;  and 
invited  the  family  and  some  friends  to  go  down  in  the 
ship,  and  return  in  the  steamer. 

It  was  a  beautiful  bright  day,  with  a  moderate  wind 
from  the  north-west.  At  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon, 
the  family  and  friends  embarked  on  the  steamer,  at  one 
of  the  piers,  and  went  alongside  of  the  ship,  at  anchor  in 
the  harbor. 

As  the  steamer  went  alongside  of  the  vessel,  the  Bo'son 's 
call  was  heard.  The  crew  manned  the  rigging,  and  gave 
three  hearty  cheers,  to  welcome  their  Captain,  his  wife, 
and  their  friends  on  board. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Waters  went  first  on  board,  followed 
by  Captain  Wilson  and  his  bride ;  and  the  four  received 
their  friends,  as  they  landed  on  the  deck  of  the  noble 
ship. 

The  crew  had  been  shipped  with  the  understanding 
that  no  liquor  was  to  be  furnished  by  the  ship,  nor  used 
on  board  ;  consequently  they  were  all  sober,  neat  in  their 
appearance,  and  ready  for  duty.  Some  of  them  had 
sailed  with  the  Captains  and  with  the  Bo'son.  The  ship 
was  in  perfect  order,  and  clean  in  every  part,  as  ships 
always  were,  where  Bill  Thomas  was  Bo'son. 

The  anchor  was  taken  to  the  bow,  the  steamer  vent 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO' SON. 

ahead,  and  the  ship  moved  down  the  Bay,  and  through 
the  narrows.  No  sail  was  made  on  the  ship,  till  she  was 
in  the  Lower  Bay.  The  friends  were  invited  into  the 
cabin  to  partake  of  a  lunch,  which  might  have  been  digni 
fied  with  the  name  of  dinner,  had  it  been  later  in  the  day. 

Before  the  ship  reached  the  point  of  the  Hook,  she  had 
set  her  top-sails,  top-gallant-sails,  and  royals,  her  courses 
hanging  in  the  brails. 

The  wind  was  still  light  near  the  land,  but  was  blowing 
a  good  breeze  a. few  miles  at  sea,  and  the  steamer  con 
tinued  to  keep  a  good  strain  on  the  tow-line.  When 
about  five  miles  out,  the  wind  had  so  increased,  that  the 
ship,  under  sail,  was  going  nearly  as  fast  as  the  steamer. 
Orders  were  given  for  the  steamer  to  "  let  go  the  line," 
the  ship  to  be  brought  to  the  wind,  with  the  main-top 
sail  aback,  and  the  steamer  to  come  alongside. 

The  leave-taking  was  tender,  sincere,  and  affectionate ; 
but  with  none  of  them,  foolish.  They  were  seamen,  or 
the  families  and  friends  of  seamen ;  had  parted  often, 
and  met  again.  None  of  them  expected  this  was  their 
last  meeting  and  parting. 

When  the  others  had  exchanged  adieus,  Captain  Waters 
took  George  by  the  hand,  saying  : 

"  Cap'n  Wilson,  you  have  a  fine  ship,  good  officers  and 
crew,  and  now  a  fair  wind.  It  gladdens  my  old  heart  to 
see  you  so  situated.  May  you  always  have  fair  winds. 
As  you  now  have  a  leading  wind,  after  we  leave  the  ship 
I  want  you  to  put  every  yard  of  canvass  on  her.  I  must 
see  her  under  full  sail,  and  then  I  shall  be  satisfied." 

"You  shall  be  gratified,  Cap'n  Waters;  but  that  will  be 
a  small  consideration  for  what  I  owe  you,  and  thank  you 
for  with  all  the  warmth  and  earnestness  of  a  sailor's  heart." 

Mr.  Hurlbut,  the  first  mate,  and  Mr.  Preston  the 
second  mate,  with  the  Bo'son  and  their  young  captain, 
were  standing  with  their  hats  off,  around  their  old  com 
mander,  looking  upon  and  loving  him  like  a  father.  He 
shook  them  all  by  the  hand, — Bill  the  last,  and  as  he  did 
so  said:  "  Only  this  voyage,  Bo'son,  and  then  you  stay 
with  me  for  life."  The  Captain  again  kissed  Susie,  and 
with  Mrs.  Waters  left  the  ship. 


296  CAPTAIN  WATERS 

As  the  steamer  left  the  side  of  the  ship,  and  dropped 
astern,  the  rigging  was  again  manned,  and  the  departing 
friends  cheered,  the  old  dog  on  the  taffrail  barking  hard 
and  loud  enough  to  have  bursted  the  throat  of  any  com 
mon  dog.  The  cheers  from  the  ship  were  returned  from 
the  steamer,  Captain  Waters  leading. 

As  requested,  Captain  Wilson  made  all  sail.  The  wind 
being  from  the  northwest,  and  the  course  of  the  ship  east, 
southerly,  the  lee  clew  of  the  mainsail,  studder-sails 
and  outer  jibs  would  draw  to  advantage.  The  steamer 
was  on  the  weather-quarter  of  the  ship,  not  going  quite  as 
fast  as  the  ship,  but  so  situated  as  to  allow  all  but  the 
head-sails  of  the  ship  to  be  seen. 

When  all  sail  was  on  the  ship,  and  the  old  Captain 
could  have  a  full  view  of  her,  he  swung  his  hat,  and'hur- 
rahed  until  he  was  hoarse  in  the  throat,  very  red  in  the 
face,  and  appeared  greatly  delighted.  Mrs.  Waters  went 
to  him,  saying : 

"  Joseph,  be  moderate  ;  I  fear  you  will  injure  yourself, 
and  be  overcome  with  excitement." 

"  I  can't  help  it,  if  I  am.  Let  me  alone,  mother,  for  this 
time,  and  let  me  enjoy  it.  I  have  held  in  all  day,  and 
now  let  us  hurrah  for  the  children.  You,  Nancy,  have 
seen  many  ships*  at  sea  under  full  sail,  but  did  you  ever 
see  a  more  lovely  sight  than  that  ship  presents  ?  " 

"  No,  Joseph,  I  never  have  ;  and  it  has  bten  a  trery 
happy  day  with  me." 

'  It  has  been  one  of  the  brightest,  happiest  days  of 
my  life,  mother.  There  goes  a  ship-load  of  our  children, 
whom  we  have  brought  up.  Every  officer,  and  some  of  the 
crew,  have  sailed  with  us.  George  is  Captain,  Susie  is  his 
wife,  and  the  two  have  enough  wealth  to  give  them  a  fair 
start  in  the  world.  Susie  will  be  very  happy.  The  Bo'son 
and  Lizzie  are  with  them."  The  Captain  took  off  his  hat, 
raised  his  eyes,  and  reverently  said,  May  Heaven  greatly 
bless  them  all." 

There  was  a  moisture  on  the  face  of  the  old  sailor ;  the 
good  wife  wiped  it  from  his  cheeks,  and  led  him  to  a  seat 
from  which  he  could  still  see  the  ship  sailing  on  her 
course.  After  watching  the  ship  for  a  time,  he  turned  his 
pleased  and  cheerful  face  to  his  wife,  saying  : 


AND  BILL,  HIS  BO  'SON. 


297 


"  Nancy,  yonder  goes  some  of  the  fruit  of  your  pru 
dence  and  economy  in  early  life.  When  we  were  first 
married,  you  carefully  used  or  saved  the  money  which  I 
earned,  and  what  you  then  saved  has  been  accumulating 
and  being  added  to,  until  now  we  can  assist  those  we 
dearly  love.  You  could  always  calm  my  hasty,  angry 
passions,  and  hold  me  in  check." 

"  In  all  things,  I  have  only  done  the  duty  of  a  wife,  and 
with  you  rejoice  in  the  happy  results." 

'*  You  have  nobly  done  your  duty,  and  with  the  assis 
tance  of  others,  we  have  saved  our  Susie  from  the 
fate  and  misery  of  Julia ;  and  now  let  us  return  to  the 
farm,  and  there  contentedly  await  the  return  of  those 
from  whom  we  have  just  parted.  Whatever  may  happen, 
we  need  not  fear  that  George  Wilson  will  die  a  drunk 
ard.  When  only  a  youth,  he  pledged  himself  to  tem 
perance,  and  has  kept  the  pledge.  He  and  Susie  will  be 
happy. 


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